Notable milestones were reached in the justice system in 2022 on the way to efficient digital administration. The year will be remembered as a year of major changes, especially for notaries. Important processes have been digitized and the digital administration of justice has taken great strides forward as a result.

The digital register of deeds and the digital custody register were launched at the beginning of the year. Since then, the data accompanying notarial deed and custody transactions has been stored centrally and purely electronically.

On 01.07.2022, the second part of the new electronic document archive went live with the collection of documents. In accordance with Section 56 of the Notarization Act, deeds have since been stored as electronic documents in the deed archive operated by the Federal Chamber of Notaries. The electronic certificates are equivalent to the classic physical copy made of paper and with a string and embossed seal. The paper documents that have been archived and stored for many years in miles of filing cabinets, filling the storerooms of notaries and courts, will soon be history.

The judiciary has recognized that the adaptation of many processes is necessary and has enormous potential for serious improvements. By converting public administration to digital processes, the justice system is creating facts and setting standards.

As a service provider to the Federal Chamber of Notaries (BNotK), Westernacher Solutions has made a significant contribution to this success. We have developed the modular software platform via which the electronic certificates are uploaded to the certificate archive using a special module.

Westernacher Solutions has also developed software for the BNotK’s certification office that is used to order and produce the new signature cards. Notaries require these for the document archive in order to sign and encrypt the documents electronically in a qualified manner.

Another milestone in digital administration has been reached with the introduction of the online notarization procedure on 1 August 2022. Certain notarizations, such as the formation of a GmbH, can be carried out by the notary via video conference. The prerequisite for this was Section 16a of the Notarization Act, which was introduced as part of the Act Implementing the Digitization Directive (DiRUG).

Westernacher Solutions has contributed to this process in several ways. The implementation of a radius and official area search ensures that only those notaries who have a local proximity to at least one party according to the official area principle may notarize by video procedure.

Westernacher Solutions has developed the software for the remote signature certificates required for the new online notarizations, which applies for, automatically checks and produces these certificates for the certification authority. Finally, the application is filed and archived in the documentation system to ensure the obligation to provide evidence.

With such digital adaptations, the judiciary has established new processes that are the prelude to further steps. Public administration still has a lot of potential that can be transformed into digital mechanisms in the coming months and years.

Westernacher Solutions has developed various solutions for the BNotK this year. In this way, we are supporting the digitalization of the justice system and creating modern processes for notaries in Germany.

Torsten Blumreiter // Head of the Justice division // Westernacher Solutions

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Torsten Blumreiter

Head of the eJustice division

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