Event date: 1 August 2022; retrospective published on 17 October 2026. The Federal Chamber of Notaries reported Germany’s first online GmbH formation that day. The milestone concerns the notarial procedure and should not be equated with immediate commercial-register entry.
What was reported at the time?
The first notarisation took place by video through the Federal Chamber of Notaries’ system. The founder was in Berlin and the notary in Munich. The announcement marked the start of online notarial procedures, rather than the removal of notarial involvement.
Why notarial form still matters
Section 2 GmbHG requires notarial form for the articles and permits notarisation by video under the statutory conditions. Discuss whether a specific transaction qualifies with the notary handling it.
Separate formation steps from registration
For subsequent research, rely on the documented register position. An appointment confirmation or news of a completed notarial meeting does not replace current evidence of registration. Our practical recommendation is to specify which step your request is intended to establish.
What to check in the documents
Begin with the exact company designation. Where a register reference is available, use it for the search. Read the date and contents together rather than inferring a processing stage from the word “online”.
- Use the complete company designation.
- Distinguish the notarial meeting from evidence of registration.
- Ask the party concerned for clarification where the stage is uncertain.
Why this is a retrospective
This article describes the 2022 launch rather than a new procedural change in October 2026. Current planning depends on the applicable statutory requirements and arrangements with the notary. No universal incorporation time follows from the historical announcement.