die  Beurkundung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/bɔʏʁkʊndʊŋ/

📜 What does 'die Beurkundung' mean?

Die Beurkundung refers to the formal act of official or notarial certification of the authenticity of a signature, a copy, or a factual situation. It's a process where an authorized person (usually a Notar - notary) records in writing the correctness or occurrence of an event or declaration of intent and confirms it with a seal and signature.

This process gives a document or declaration special evidentiary value (Beweiskraft) and is often legally required (gesetzlich vorgeschrieben) for important legal transactions (e.g., purchasing property - Grundstückskauf, making a will - Testamentserstellung, forming a company - Gesellschaftsgründung).

⚠️ It's important not to confuse Beurkundung with a simple Beglaubigung (authentication/certification). A Beglaubigung usually only confirms the authenticity of a signature or copy, whereas a Beurkundung covers the entire content of the document or process, confirming that it reflects the parties' will and is legally correct.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Beurkundung' in Detail

The word 'Beurkundung' is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always 'die'. It is typically used in the singular as it describes a specific act or process. The plural 'die Beurkundungen' is possible when referring to multiple individual acts of certification.

Example Sentences

1. Für den Kaufvertrag des Hauses ist eine notarielle Beurkundung erforderlich.
   (A notarial certification is required for the house purchase agreement.)
2. Die Beurkundung des Testaments erfolgte letzte Woche beim Notar.
   (The certification of the will took place last week at the notary's office.)
3. Ohne die Beurkundung ist die Gründung der GmbH nicht rechtskräftig.
   (Without the certification, the formation of the LLC is not legally valid.)
4. Die Kosten für die Beurkundung sind gesetzlich festgelegt.
   (The costs for the certification are legally defined.)
5. Der Notar nahm mehrere Beurkundungen an diesem Vormittag vor.
   (The notary performed several certifications this morning.)

✅ When to use 'die Beurkundung'?

The term 'die Beurkundung' is used almost exclusively in legal and official contexts. It is central to:

• Immobiliengeschäfte (Real estate transactions): Purchase agreements for land and property must be notarized (beurkundet).
• Erbrecht (Inheritance law): Public wills (öffentliche Testamente) and inheritance contracts (Erbverträge) require Beurkundung.
• Gesellschaftsrecht (Company law): Formation agreements for certain types of companies (e.g., GmbH, AG) must be certified (beurkundet).
• Familienrecht (Family law): Prenuptial agreements (Eheverträge) or adoption applications often require Beurkundung.
• Vollmachten (Powers of attorney): Certain extensive powers of attorney (e.g., Generalvollmachten, Vorsorgevollmachten) are often certified to increase their acceptance and evidentiary value.

In everyday language, the word is rare. People are more likely to say 'etwas notariell bestätigen lassen' (to have something notarized) or 'zum Notar gehen' (to go to the notary).

Distinction: As mentioned, die Beglaubigung (authentication) is a less comprehensive act than die Beurkundung. Die Zertifizierung (certification) can be similar but often relates more to confirming standards or qualifications (e.g., ISO certification), although it can also occur in the context of documents.

💡 Memory Aids for Beurkundung

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in '-ung' in German are almost always feminine ('die'). Think: The official proceeding requires signing -> die Beurkundung.

Meaning Mnemonic: 'Beurkundung' contains the word 'Urkunde', which means 'official document' or 'deed'. A Beurkundung is the official act that turns something into a legally binding Urkunde or records its content as such. Think of it as making something 'document-official'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, potentially confusing words:

• Beglaubigung: Confirms only authenticity (e.g., signature, copy), not necessarily the content or legal correctness of the entire process.
• Urkunde: The document itself, which can be created or confirmed through Beurkundung.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Notare immer einen Bleistift zur Beurkundung mit?
Damit sie etwas „zu Protokoll“ geben können, das man auch wieder wegradieren kann! 😉

Translation: Why do notaries always bring a pencil to the certification?
So they can 'put something on record' (zu Protokoll geben) that can also be erased! 😉 (Just kidding, of course, certifications are very serious and final!)

📜 Poem about Beurkundung

Ein Siegel, schwer und offiziell,
macht Willen klar und wirkt sehr schnell.
Der Notar schreibt, was Recht soll sein,
die Beurkundung schließt es ein.

Ob Haus, ob Erbe, ob Vertrag,
es gilt von diesem wicht'gen Tag.
Mit Stempel, Schrift und Signatur,
entsteht die bindende Struktur.

Translation:
A seal, heavy and official,
makes intent clear and acts very fast.
The notary writes what should be law,
the certification encloses it.

Whether house, inheritance, or contract,
it's valid from this important day.
With stamp, script, and signature,
the binding structure is created.

❓ Riddle

Ich mache Verträge stark und fest,
bin vorgeschrieben oft per Test(ament).
Ein Notar braucht mich für seine Macht,
hab über Recht und Geld gewacht.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Die Beurkundung

Translation:
I make contracts strong and firm,
I'm often required by will (Testament).
A notary needs me for their power,
I've watched over law and money's hour.

What am I?
Answer: Die Beurkundung (The certification/notarization)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word 'Beurkundung' is derived from the verb 'beurkunden' (to certify, to notarize). This, in turn, is composed of:

• Prefix 'be-': often used to make verbs transitive or to denote a process.
• Root word 'Urkunde': an official document, deed, or certificate with evidentiary value.
• Suffix '-en': infinitive ending of the verb.

The noun is formed using the suffix '-ung', which denotes the process or result of the verb and makes the noun feminine (die Beurkundung).

Trivia:

In Germany, the costs for a notarial certification (notarielle Beurkundung) are legally regulated by the Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz (GNotKG - Court and Notary Costs Act) and are usually based on the business value (Geschäftswert) of the transaction being certified.