A “legitimate interest” in inspecting the land register exists if you can provide objective reasons for the requested inspection that rule out the pursuit of unauthorized purposes or mere curiosity. Therefore, for example, creditors of the property owner who intend to foreclose on the property, or prospective buyers with whom the property owner is already in negotiations, may inspect the land register.

To demonstrate a legitimate interest in accessing the land register, specific facts (and not merely general assertions) must be presented and substantiated by appropriate documents that allow the land registry office to weigh the circumstances. In cases of doubt, the land registry office may require prima facie evidence (Section 31 of the Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction—FamFG).

Certain parties who, for professional reasons, must access the land register particularly frequently (e.g., government agencies, notaries, financial institutions) may, provided the legal requirements are met, be admitted to the so-called automated retrieval procedure, which enables online access to the land register.

An increasing number of websites are offering paid services to provide property owners with land registry extracts. These are private service providers with which the land registry offices have no affiliation. The processing fees charged by these providers are often significantly higher than the actual court fees incurred. The court fees collected by the State Justice Treasury in Bamberg must be paid separately from any additional costs charged by the third-party provider. You can request your land registry extract directly from the land registry office at any time by demonstrating a legitimate interest.