German commercial register documents rely on a small, consistent vocabulary. Once a reader recognises the recurring labels, a Handelsregisterauszug becomes much easier to navigate: fields appear in predictable places, headings mark the beginning of each section, and most entries are built from the same building blocks regardless of the legal form. This reference page describes the labels that appear most often, explains what they mean in practice, and indicates where each is typically found.
How German register documents are organised
A register extract normally opens with a header identifying the competent register court (Registergericht), the register section and number (for example HRB or HRA followed by digits), and the date and time of the retrieval. Below the header, the body of the document lists the registered facts in columns or numbered sections: the company name and seat, the object of the enterprise, the share capital or contribution, the persons authorised to represent the entity, and any notes about changes since the last filing. Historical extracts add earlier entries that have been superseded; chronological extracts present the full history in order.
Because every legal form has its own typical content, labels are broadly stable but not always identical across documents. A GmbH extract will list Geschäftsführer and Stammkapital; an AG extract will refer to Vorstand and Aufsichtsrat; a partnership in section A (HRA) will identify partners and personally liable members rather than directors. Reading labels in context therefore matters as much as knowing their literal translation.
Common labels and fields
| Label | Meaning in practice | Where it typically appears |
|---|---|---|
| HRB / HRA | Register section (B for corporations, A for partnerships and sole traders) followed by the entry number | Extract header, contracts, invoices, imprint |
| Registergericht | Local court responsible for keeping the entry | Extract header, references in filings |
| Sitz | Registered seat of the entity (town or city) | Extract body, corporate documents |
| Geschäftsanschrift | Business address recorded with the register | Extract body |
| Gegenstand des Unternehmens | Stated object or purpose of the business | Extract body |
| Stammkapital / Grundkapital | Registered share capital (GmbH / AG) | Extract body |
| Vertretungsbefugnis | Rules on who may represent the entity and how (single or joint signature) | Extract body |
| Geschäftsführer | Managing director of a GmbH or UG | Extract body, filings |
| Vorstand / Aufsichtsrat | Management board and supervisory board of an AG | AG extracts |
| Prokurist | Holder of a commercial power of attorney (Prokura) | Extract body |
| Liquidator | Person appointed to wind up the entity | Extract body during dissolution |
| Tag der Eintragung | Date the entry or amendment was recorded | Extract footer, change entries |
Extract types you may encounter
Current, historical, and chronological
Register courts typically offer a current extract (aktueller Ausdruck) showing only presently valid data, a historical extract that also lists entries no longer in force, and a chronological extract that arranges the full history in sequence. The type of extract should be indicated near the header; when comparing information across documents, it is important to check which type is in front of you, as an apparent "missing" field may simply reflect a current extract that omits historical content.
Reading labels in context
- Always cross-check the register section (HRB or HRA) against the legal form stated in the body — mismatches usually indicate a copy-paste error rather than a genuine anomaly.
- Representation rules (Vertretungsbefugnis) are often the most practically important field in diligence: they determine who can bind the entity.
- Addresses, seats, and business addresses can diverge; a Sitz is a legal concept, while the Geschäftsanschrift is an operational one.
- Dates attached to individual entries are not the same as the retrieval date printed in the header.
In short: German register documents use a compact, recurring vocabulary. Recognising the core labels and where they appear makes it much easier to read an extract, compare versions, and identify the fields that matter for any given question.
Related pages
- Register extract — where these labels typically appear.
- Company forms — why labels differ by legal form.
- Register numbers — how HRB and HRA references are built.