Services / Expertise

REAL ESTATE LAW

Real estate law is one of the key competences of Notary Christian Pfeiffer. The notarial services in this field are widespread. They include

• Real estate developer’s projects
• Creation of apartment ownership
• Sales and donations of real estate
• Heritable building rights
• Liens (land charges and mortgages)
• Usufruct and right of residence
• Neighboring rights

The notarized deed constitutes the legal frame set for these matters. We always stay focused on assisting the parties in achieving a future-proof, free of conflict and economically sound solution.

COMMERCIAL AND CORPORATE LAW

Business law is another key priority in our practice. Notary Christian Pfeiffer advises you on choosing the legal organization that suits you best. He drafts and notarizes memorandums of association, deeds of partnerships, and bylaws. He monitors the founding procedure until registration. After the formation of the company we offer support and assistance as well.

For example, such may be needed with

• entry in the commercial register
• entry in the partnership register
• shareholders’ and general meetings
• amendment to articles of association
• appointment of directors
• transformations, mergers
• transfer of shares
• asset deals / share deals

ASSOCIATIONS

Legal matters of associations often require notarial assistance. Whatever association you are engaged in (e.g. a sports club, a musical society, a booster club etc.), the right to found and form an association is highly valued in the German law and is constitutionally protected. In order for an association to obtain a legal personality, it needs to be registered in the register of associations of the local court with subject-matter jurisdiction. We help you with the arrangements.

FAMILY LAW

„Que sera sera? .. the future’s not ours to see…“ A divorce usually has grave financial consequences. Especially when larger fortunes, higher incomes and corporate involvement of the spouse(s) are involved, necessity calls for a prenuptial agreement aka marriage contract.

Let us offer you our counsel!

A Notary is obligated to ensure that a balanced agreement is made. The economically weaker party requires special attention.

Even when a divorce is already imminent, a notarized marriage contract can still be of much help.

It can include agreements on

• maintenance
• parental custody and determination of residence
• equalization of pension rights
• equalization of accrued gains

Thus, the actual divorce proceedings at court can be streamlined to a great extent. It is also cost-saving and eases the tension between the involved parties a lot.

INHERITANCE LAW

The last will and testament, alternatively a contract of inheritance, is likely to be one the most important legal documents of your life. Therefore, you would be best advised to engage professional counsel. The ‘homemade’ do-it-yourself will and testament may often result in the exact opposite of what you had wanted. Allegedly simple and straight-forward provisions may turn into difficult matters of interpretation. More often than not the testator unintentionally leaves behind his loved ones a heap of trouble. That can easily be avoided with a notarized will. The notary is experienced in these matters and will take into account many things that you may not have foreseen.

The notarized will is deposited at the local court. That guarantees that in case of a bereavement it will be found and put into effect. Even though the notarized will generate substantial fees as opposed to the handwritten will, from an economic standpoint it really is the better choice, because it saves the costs for the otherwise often needed certificate of inheritance which usually are twice as high.

In many cases it makes sense to transfer ownership in the lifetime of the testator as an anticipated succession. Such transfer contracts are standard and done on a daily basis. Because these transaction may have a great impact on your taxes a notary usually teams up with your tax advisor to outline a tax-optimized solution.

POWER OF ATTORNEY / LIVING WILL / ADVANCE DIRECTIVE / DNR

Make provisions for tomorrow! If worse comes to worst and you should one day be unable to communicate your wishes or even become legally and/or mentally incompetent, someone else will have to decide how your life will carry on. Someone else will decide

• where you will be accommodated
• what medical treatment you will receive
• at which nursery home you will live
• do your wealth management
• your banking transactions

You are gravely mistaken if you assume your spouse / partner or child is automatically entitled to take care of that!

None of these persons will automatically have legal custodianship over you. If you do not make provisions, the custodianship court will designate a legal custodian for you who will take care of your matters. You can prevent that by making a living will (aka advance directive). With this legal document you can specify the type of medical care you do or do not want in the event you are unable to communicate your wishes. In order to enforce these wishes with medical personnel and hospitals the best decision would be to designate a trusted person as your health-care proxy. The notarized power-of-attorney and living will can provide the solution you need.

Civil Notary Christian Pfeiffer will gladly inform you further on these matters.