Übersetzung durch Neil Mussett
Translation provided by Neil Mussett
Stand: Die Übersetzung berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 6 des Gesetzes vom 19. Juni 2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 206).
Version information: The translation includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 6 of the Act of 19 June 2024 (Federal Law Gazette 2024 I no. 206).
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Act on Senior Judicial Officers
(Rechtspflegergesetz – RPflG)
Full citation: Act on Senior Judicial Officers in the version of the promulgation of 5 November 1969 (Bundesgesetzblatt [Federal Law Gazette] Part I, page 2065), as last amended by Article 6 of the Act of 19 June 2024 (Federal Law Gazette 2024 I no. 206)
Division 1
Tasks and status of senior judicial officers
Section 1
General status of senior judicial officers
Senior judicial officers carry out the judicial administration tasks assigned to them by the present Act.
Section 2
Prerequisites for service as a senior judicial officer
(1) A civil servant of the judicial service who has completed a preparatory service of three years and who has passed the senior judicial officer examination may be entrusted with the tasks of a senior judicial officer. The preparatory service imparts to the civil servant in a course of studies of a University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) or in an equivalent course of studies the factual knowledge and methods, as well as the vocational practical skills and knowledge, which are required to carry out the tasks of a senior judicial officer. The preparatory service consists of specialist studies of at least eighteen months’ duration, and of vocational practical study periods. The vocational practical study periods consist of training in the key areas comprised by the tasks of a senior judicial officer; the practical training may not last less than one year.
(2) Persons may be admitted to the preparatory service who have attained a level of education giving entitlement to study at an institute of higher education, or who provide proof of a level of education recognised as equivalent thereto. Civil servants of the intermediate judicial service may be admitted to training as a senior judicial officer if they have worked for at least three years in the intermediate judicial service following the service category examination and, according to their character and their performance to date, appear to be suited to serve as a senior judicial officer. The Länder may determine that the time of service within the intermediate judicial service may be counted up to a duration of six months towards the vocational practical study periods.
(3) A person who possesses the qualification for judicial office may also be entrusted, upon their request, with the tasks of a senior judicial officer.
(4) Successfully completed law studies may be counted up to the duration of twelve months towards the preparatory service, and a preparatory service in accordance with section 5b of the Judiciary Act (Deutsches Richtergesetz) may be counted up to the duration of six months towards the preparatory service. Sentence 1 applies accordingly to participants in training in accordance with section 5b of the Judiciary Act in the version of the Act of 10 September 1971 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 1557).
(5) Trainee jurists (Referendare) may be assigned to carry out the tasks of a senior judicial officer on a temporary basis.
(6) The Länder issues the detailed provisions.
(7) The Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz) does not apply.
The following tasks are assigned to the senior judicial officer:
1. all of the tasks of the local court to be carried out by the judge in accordance with the statutory provisions in
a) cases related to associations in accordance with sections 29, 37 and 55 to 79 of the Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch), as well as in accordance with Book 5 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction (Gesetz über das Verfahren in Familiensachen und in den Angelegenheiten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit),
b) further matters of non-contentious jurisdiction in accordance with section 410 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction, as well as proceedings in accordance with section 84 (2), section 189 of the Insurance Contract Act (Versicherungsvertragsgesetz),
c) public notice procedures in accordance with Book 8 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
d) cases related to credits for leaseholders within the meaning of the Leaseholder Credit Act (Pachtkreditgesetz),
f) cases concerned with official records, including acceptance of the declaration,
h) land register cases, register of ships and register of ships under construction cases, as well as cases of the register for liens in aircraft,
i) proceedings in accordance with the Act on Forced Sale and Sequestration (Gesetz über die Zwangsversteigerung und die Zwangsverwaltung),
k) proceedings for the distribution of the proceeds of a public auction which are to be implemented outside compulsory execution in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (Zivilprozessordnung) regarding the proceedings for distribution of the proceeds of a public auction,
l) proceedings for the distribution of the proceeds of a public auction which are to be implemented outside forced sale in accordance with the provisions which apply to the distribution of the proceeds in the case of a forced sale,
m) proceedings for distribution of the proceeds of a public auction in accordance with section 75 (2) of the Land Reallocation Act (Flurbereinigungsgesetz), section 54 (3) of the Acquisition of Land (for Military Purposes) Act (Landbeschaffungsgesetz), section 119 (3) of the Federal Construction Code (Baugesetzbuch) and section 94 (4) of the Federal Mining Act (Bundesberggesetz),
n) cases related to the commercial register, the register of cooperative societies, and the partnerships register, in accordance with section 374 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction;
2. subject to the exceptions listed in sections 14 to 19b of the present Act, the tasks of the local court to be carried out by the judge in accordance with the statutory provisions
a) parent and child cases and adoption cases, as well as corresponding life partnership cases in accordance with sections 151, 186 and 269 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
b) custodianship cases, as well as custodianship court assignment cases in accordance with sections 271 and 340 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
c) inheritance and partitioning cases in accordance with section 342 (1) and (2) no. 2 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
d) cases concerned with the commercial register, as well as proceedings under company law in accordance with sections 374 and 375 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
e) proceedings in accordance with the Insolvency Statute (Insolvenzordnung),
g) proceedings in accordance with Council regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings (OJ L 160 of 30 June 2000 p. 1; L 350 of 6 December 2014, p. 15), as last amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1792 (OJ L 274 of 11 October 2016, p. 35), proceedings in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (OJ L 141 of 5 June 2015, p. 19; L 349 of 21 December 2016, p. 6), as last amended by Regulation (EU) 2017/353 (OJ L 57 of 3 March 2017, p. 19), proceedings in accordance with Articles 102 and 102c of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute, as well as proceedings in accordance with the Implementing Act to the German-Austrian Bankruptcy Agreement (Ausführungsgesetz zum deutsch-österreichischen Konkursvertrag) of 8 March 1985 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 535),
h) proceedings in accordance with the Maritime Distribution Statute (Schiffahrtsrechtliche Verteilungsordnung),
i) proceedings in accordance with section 33 of the International Inheritance Law Procedure Act (Internationales Erbrechtsverfahrensgesetz) of 29 June 2015 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 1042) regarding the issuance, rectification, amendment or withdrawal of a European Certificate of Succession, regarding the issuance of a certified copy of a European Certificate of Succession, or the extension of the period of validity of a certified copy, and regarding the suspension of the effects of a European Certificate of Succession;
3. the tasks individually listed in sections 20 to 24a, 25 and 25a of the present Act
a) in proceedings in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure,
b) in declaratory proceedings,
c) of the court in criminal and regulatory fines proceedings,
d) in proceedings before the Federal Patent Court,
e) in the field of the recording of declarations,
f) in the field of legal advice aid,
g) in the field of family cases,
h) in proceedings on legal aid in accordance with the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction;
4. the tasks individually listed in sections 29 and 31 of the present Act
a) in international legal transactions,
c) of the criminal prosecution office in criminal proceedings and of execution in criminal and regulatory fine cases, as well as of measures to maintain public order and means of coercion.
(1) The senior judicial officer carries out all measures required to carry out the tasks assigned to him or her.
(2) The senior judicial officer is not entitled
1. to order an oath to be sworn or to administer an oath,
2. to threaten or order deprivations of liberty unless these are measures for the execution
a) of a prison sentence in accordance with section 457 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Strafprozeßordnung), or of confinement for contempt of court in accordance with section 890 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
b) of a measure of rehabilitation and security in accordance with section 463 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, or
c) of imprisonment for the purposes of enforcement in accordance with section 97 of the Act on Regulatory Offences (Gesetz über Ordnungswidrigkeiten).
(3) If the senior judicial officer considers measures to be required which he or she is not entitled to carry out in accordance with subsection (2) nos. 1 and 2, he or she therefore submits the case to the judge for a ruling.
Section 5
Submission to the judge
(1) The senior judicial officer submits to the judge tasks which have been assigned to him or her if
1. it emerges when processing the case that a ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court or of a court of a Land which has jurisdiction for constitutional disputes is to be requested in accordance with Article 100 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz);
2. there is such a close connection between the assigned task and a task to be carried out by the judge that it is not expedient for them to be dealt with separately.
(2) The senior judicial officer may submit tasks which have been assigned to him or her to the judge if the application of foreign law can be considered.
(3) The cases which have been submitted are dealt with by the judge insofar as he or she considers it to be necessary. He or she may return the cases to the senior judicial officer. If the judge returns a case to the senior judicial officer, the latter is bound by a legal view stated by the judge.
Section 6
Processing of assigned cases by the judge
If an assigned task is so closely connected with a task to be performed by the judge that it would not be expedient for them to be processed separately, the judge is to deal with the entire matter.
Section 7
Determination of the competent body of judicial administration
In the event of a dispute or of uncertainty regarding whether a task is to be dealt with by the judge or the senior judicial officer, the judge decides on competence by issuing an order. The order is not challengeable.
(1) If the judge has performed a task which has been assigned to the senior judicial officer, the effectiveness of the task remains unaffected.
(2) If the senior judicial officer has carried out a task which may be assigned to him or her by the judge in accordance with the present Act, the task is not ineffective because the assignment did not take place or the prerequisites for the assignment in the individual case were not met.
(3) A task is not ineffective because the senior judicial officer did not submit it to the judge in contravention of section 5 (1).
(4) If the senior judicial officer has performed a task of the judge which in accordance with the present Act has neither been assigned to him or her nor can be assigned to him or her, the task is ineffective. This does not apply if the task had been assigned to the senior judicial officer by a ruling in accordance with section 7.
(5) If the senior judicial officer has performed a task of the clerk of the registry, the effectiveness of the task remains unaffected.
Section 9
Freedom of the senior judicial officer from instructions
The senior judicial officer is factually independent and bound only by law and order.
Section 10
Preclusion and rejection of the senior judicial officer
The provisions applicable to the judge apply accordingly to the preclusion and rejection of the senior judicial officer. The judge decides on the rejection of the senior judicial officer.
(1) An appeal is available against decisions of the senior judicial officer which is admissible in accordance with the general rules of procedure.
(2) If no appeal may be lodged against the ruling in accordance with the general procedural regulations, a reminder is issued, which is to be submitted within a period of two weeks. If the party lodging the reminder has failed to comply with the period without blame, he or she is to be restored to the status quo ante on request if he or she lodges the reminder within two weeks of remedying the obstacle, and makes a plausible case with regard to the facts which give rise to the restoration. A lack of blame is presumed if no notice, or an incorrect notice, has been given with regard to the appeal. Restoration may no longer be applied for after expiry of one year, counted from the end of the deadline that has been missed. The senior judicial officer may remedy the reminder. He or she submits those reminders which he or she does not remedy to the judge for a ruling. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure apply accordingly to the reminder in all other cases.
(3) Court rulings, orders or certifications which have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Land Register Code (Grundbuchordnung), of the Code of the Register of Ships (Schiffsregisterordnung), or of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction, and which can no longer be amended, are not contestable with a reminder. The reminder is further ruled out in cases falling under sections 694 and 700 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and against the rulings on granting a right to vote (section 77 of the Insolvency Statute).
(4) No court fees are charged for the reminder proceedings.
Section 12
Designation of senior judicial officer
The senior judicial officer is to add the word “Rechtspfleger” (“senior judicial officer”) to his or her signature in correspondence and when recording certificates in assigned matters.
Section 13
Exclusion of mandatory representation by counsel
Section 78 (1) of the Code of Civil Procedure and section 114 (1) of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction does not apply to proceedings before the senior judicial officer.
Division 2
Tasks reserved to the judge in family cases and in the field of non-contentious jurisdiction, as well as in insolvency proceedings and proceedings under maritime law for the distribution of the proceeds of a public auction
Section 14
Parent and child cases and adoption cases
(1) Of the matters in parent and child and adoption cases assigned to the family court, and of the corresponding life partnership cases, the following is reserved to the judge:
1. proceedings which have as their subject-matter the establishment of the existence or non-existence of parental custody of one party for the other;
2. the measures on the basis of section 1666 of the Civil Code to avert danger to the physical, mental or emotional best interest of the child;
3. the assignment of parental custody in accordance with sections 1626a, 1671, 1678 (2), section 1680 (2) and (3), as well as section 1681 (1) and (2), of the Civil Code;
4. the ruling on the transfer of matters of parental custody to the foster carer in accordance with section 1630 (3) of the Civil Code;
5. the ruling on differences of opinion between the persons with parental custody;
6. authorisation of accommodation involving deprivation of liberty, or of a measure involving deprivation of liberty in accordance with section 1631b of the Civil Code, and authorisation of consent in accordance with section 1631e (3) of the Civil Code;
7. the arrangement of personal contact between parents and children, as well as between children and third parties, in accordance with section 1684 (3) and (4), section 1685 (3) and section 1686a (2) of the Civil Code, the ruling on the restriction or the exclusion of the right to decide alone in matters of daily life in accordance with sections 1687 and 1687a of the Civil Code, as well as on disputes related to a matter in accordance with section 1632 (2) of the Civil Code;
8. the decision on the right to surrender of a child in accordance with section 1632 (1) of the Civil Code, as well as the decision that the child remains with the foster carer in accordance with section 1632 (4) or with the spouse, life partner or a person entitled to contact in accordance with section 1682 of the Civil Code;
9. the ordering of custodianship or curatorship on the basis of provisions of service law insofar as the family court has jurisdiction therefor;
11. the measures concerned with the religious education of children in accordance with sections 2, 3 and 7 of the Act on the Religious Education of Children (Gesetz über die religiöse Kindererziehung);
12. substitution of the consent
a) of a person with parental custody to a legal transaction,
b) of a statutory representative to the declaration of parental custody of a parent with limited capacity to contract in accordance with section 1626c (2) sentence 1 of the Civil Code,
c) of the statutory representative in accordance with section 3 (1) sentence 2 of the Act on Self-Determination with regard to the Gender Entry (Gesetz über die Selbstbestimmung in Bezug auf den Geschlechtseintrag);
13. the activities named in the Youth Courts Act (Jugendgerichtsgesetz), with the exception of the appointment of a curator in accordance with section 67 (4) sentence 3 of the Youth Courts Act;
14. the substitution of the consent to or the approval of adoption of a child in accordance with section 1746 (3), as well as in accordance with sections 1748 and 1749 (1) of the Civil Code, the ruling on adoption of a child, including the ruling on the name of the child in accordance with sections 1752, 1768 and 1757 (3) of the Civil Code, the cancellation of the adoption relationship in accordance with sections 1760, 1763 and 1771 of the Civil Code, as well as decisions in accordance with section 1751 (3), section 1764 (4) and section 1765 (2) of the Civil Code, and in accordance with the Act on the Effect of Adoptions (Adoptionswirkungsgesetz) of 5 November 2001 (Federal Law Gazette I, pp. 2950 and 2953), insofar as they contain a judicial ruling;
15. exemption from the prohibition to marry if adoption has created a collateral relationship in accordance with section 1308 (2) of the Civil Code;
16. approval of the petition for divorce or dissolution of marriage or for dissolution of the life partnership by the statutory representative of a spouse or life partner who is not capable of contracting in accordance with section 125 (2) sentence 2 and section 270 (1) sentence 1 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction;
17. approval of the declarations on the amendment of the gender entry and of the forenames in accordance with section 3 (2) sentence 2 of the Act on Self-Determination with regard to the Gender Entry.
(2) Insofar as the measures and orders in accordance with sections 10 to 15, 20, 21, 32 to 35, 38 to 41, 44 to 44c, 44f, 44h, 44j, and 47 to 50, of the International Family Law Procedure Act (Internationales Familienrechtsverfahrensgesetz) are incumbent on the family court, they remain reserved to the judge.
Section 15
Custodianship cases and custodianship court assignment cases
(1) Of those matters which are assigned to the custodianship court, the following remain reserved to the judge:
1. activities on the basis of sections 1814 to 1816, 1817 (1) to (4), sections 1818, 1819, 1820 (3) to (5), and section 1868 (1) to (4) and (7), of the Civil Code, as well as the subsequent appointment of a new custodian;
2. the appointment of a new custodian in the case of the death of the custodian in accordance with section 1869 of the Civil Code;
3. activities on the basis of section 1871 of the Civil Code and of section 291 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction;
4. activities on the basis of sections 1825, 1829 and 1830 of the Civil Code;
6. the ordering of custodianship or curatorship on the basis of provisions of civil service law;
7. the decision in accordance with section 1834 of the Civil Code;
8. approval in accordance with section 6 of the Act on Voluntary Castration and other Treatment Methods (Gesetz über die freiwillige Kastration und andere Behandlungsmethoden);
9. approval of the declarations on the amendment of the gender entry and of the forenames in accordance with section 3 (3) of the Act on Self-Determination with regard to the Gender Entry;
10. approval of the petition for divorce or dissolution of marriage or for dissolution of the life partnership by the statutory representative of a spouse or life partner who is not capable of contracting in accordance with section 125 (2) sentence 2 and section 270 (1) sentence 1 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction.
(2) The measures and orders in accordance with sections 6 to 12 of the Act Implementing the Convention on the Protection of Adults (Erwachsenenschutzübereinkommens-Ausführungsgesetz) of 17 March 2007 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 314) remain reserved to the judge.
Section 16
Inheritance and distribution cases; European Certificate of Succession
(1) The following remain reserved to the judge in inheritance and distribution cases:
1. the tasks of the inheritance court which became necessary with provisional administration of estate or administration of estate insofar as they correspond to the tasks in parent and child cases that are ruled out from assignment in accordance with section 14 of the present Act;
2. the nomination of executors (section 2200 of the Civil Code);
3. the ruling on applications to cancel an order made by the testator for the administration of the estate by testamentary disposition (section 2216 (2) sentence 2 of the Civil Code);
4. the ruling on differences of opinion between several executors (section 2224 of the Civil Code);
5. the dismissal of an executor if a compelling reason exists (section 2227 of the Civil Code);
6. the issuance of certificates of inheritance (section 2353 of the Civil Code), as well as of certificates in accordance with sections 36 and 37 of the Land Register Code or sections 42 and 74 of the Code on the Register of Ships, insofar as a testamentary disposition has been made, or the application of foreign law can be considered, further the issuance of certificates of inheritance (section 2368 of the Civil Code);
7. the withdrawal of certificates of inheritance (section 2361 of the Civil Code) and of other certificates in accordance with sections 36 and 37 of the Land Register Code and sections 42 and 74 of the Code on the Register of Ships if the certificates of inheritance, or other certificates, have been issued by the judge, or are to be withdrawn because of a testamentary disposition, and further the withdrawal of certificates of inheritance (section 2368 of the Civil Code). and of certificates on continuation of community of property (section 1507 of the Civil Code.
(2) In proceedings regarding the European Certificate of Succession, the issuance, rectification, amendment or withdrawal of a European Certificate of Succession (section 33 no. 1 of the International Inheritance Law Procedure Act), as well as the suspension of the effects of a European Certificate of Succession (section 33 no. 3 of the International Inheritance Law Procedure Act), remain reserved to the judge if there is a testamentary disposition or the application of foreign law may be considered.
(3) If, despite the fact that there is a testamentary disposition, the rules of intestate succession are material, and German inheritance law is applicable, the judge may assign the following matters to the senior judicial officer:
1. the award of a certificate of inheritance;
2. the issuance of a European Certificate of Succession;
3. the award of a certificate in accordance with sections 36 and 37 of the Land Register Code, or with sections 42 and 74 of the Code on the Register of Ships.
The senior judicial officer is bound by the view of the judge notified to him or her.
Section 17
Register cases and proceedings under company law
The following remain reserved to the judge in cases concerned with the commercial register, as well as in proceedings under company law in accordance with Book 5 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
1. with public limited companies, partnerships limited by shares, limited liability companies and mutual insurance associations, the following orders at the court of the seat of business and, if it is a company headquartered abroad, at the court of the branch office:
a) for the initial registration,
b) for the registration of amendments to the statutes which concern not only the version,
c) for the registration of incorporation or change of the corporate form,
d) for the registration of the existence, amendment or termination of a company-transfer agreement,
e) for deletion from the commercial register in accordance with sections 394, 395, 397 and 398 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction and in accordance with section 6 (4) sentence 1 of the Insurance Supervision Act (Versicherungsaufsichtsgesetz),
f) orders in accordance with section 399 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction;
2. the tasks to be performed in accordance with section 375 nos. 1 to 6, 9, 14 and 16 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction, with the exception of the tasks regulated in
a) section 145 (1) and section 152 (1) of the Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch),
b) section 264 (2), section 273 (4) and section 290 (3) of the Share Capital Companies and Partnerships Act (Aktiengesetz),
c) section 66 (2) and (3) and section 74 (2) and (3) of the Act on Limited Liability Companies (Gesetz betreffend die Gesellschaften mit beschränkter Haftung).
Section 18
Insolvency proceedings
(1) The following remain reserved to the judge in the proceedings in accordance with the Insolvency Statute:
1. the proceedings until the decision is taken on the opening application, including this decision and the nomination of the insolvency administrator, as well as the proceedings on a plan for the settlement of debts in accordance with sections 305 to 310 of the Insolvency Statute,
2 the proceedings on an insolvency plan in accordance with sections 217 to 256 and sections 258 to 269 of the Insolvency Statute,
3. the decision on the establishment of group jurisdiction in accordance with section 3a (1) of the Insolvency Statute, the decision on the request for referral to the court of group jurisdiction in accordance with section 3d (1) of the Insolvency Statute, as well as the coordination procedure in accordance with sections 269d to 269i of the Insolvency Statute,
4. in case of an application by the debtor to issue discharge of residual debt, the decisions in accordance with sections 287a, 290, 296 to 297a and 300 of the Insolvency Statute if an insolvency creditor applies to refuse to grant discharge of residual debt, as well as the decision on the retraction of discharge of residual debt in accordance with section 303 of the Insolvency Statute,
5. rulings in accordance with sections 344 to 346 of the Insolvency Statute.
(2) The judge may reserve the insolvency proceedings entirely or partly if he or she considers this to be required. If he or she no longer considers the reservation to be necessary, he or she may assign the proceedings to the senior judicial officer. He or she may also reassign the proceedings to himself or herself after the assignment, if and as long as he or she considers this to be required.
(3) If the decision of the senior judicial officer on the granting of the right to vote in accordance with section 77 of the Insolvency Statute has affected the outcome of a ballot, the judge may redefine the voting right and order the ballot to be repeated when requested by a creditor or by the insolvency administrator; the request may only be filed until the end of the hearing at which the ballot takes place.
(4) A civil servant on probation may not carry out tasks of the senior judicial officer in insolvency cases in the first year after his or her appointment. Senior judicial officers in insolvency cases are to have demonstrable knowledge of insolvency law, and basic knowledge of commercial and company law and of the parts of labour, social and fiscal law and accounting necessary for insolvency proceedings. A senior judicial officer whose knowledge in these fields is not demonstrated may only be assigned the tasks of a senior judicial officer in insolvency cases if it can be anticipated that he or she will acquire such knowledge soon.
Section 19
Rescission of judicial reserves
(1) The Land governments are authorised, by statutory instrument, to fully or partly rescind the judicial reserves determined in the above provisions insofar as they relate to the following matters:
1. the tasks in accordance with section 14 (1) no. 9, as well as section 15 (1) nos. 1 to 6, insofar as they relate to the decision on the ordering of custodianship and to the ascertainment of the group of tasks incumbent on the custodian on the basis of sections 1814, 1815 and 1820 (3) of the Civil Code, as well as the tasks on the basis of section 1820 (4) and (5), sections 1825, 1829 and 1830, as well as 1871, of the Civil Code, and of section 278 (5) and section 283 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction;
2. the tasks in accordance with section 16 (1) no. 1, insofar as they correspond to the tasks ruled out in accordance with section 14 (1) no. 9 of the present Act in parent and child cases;
3. the tasks in accordance with section 16 (1) no. 2;
4. the tasks in accordance with section 16 (1) no. 5 unless the deceased has designated the executor personally or has determined a third party to designate him or her;
5. the tasks in accordance with section 16 (1) nos. 6 and 7, as well as subsection (2);
6. the tasks in accordance with section 17 no. 1, insofar as they do not relate to the assessment and decision in accordance with section 316 (3), where appropriate in conjunction with section 329 sentence 1, and section 343 (3), of the Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz).
The Land governments may assign the empowerment to the Land departments of justice.
(2) The instrument in accordance with subsection (1) provides that the senior judicial officer must submit the proceedings to the judge for further processing insofar as, in the tasks in accordance with subsection (1) sentence 1 nos. 2 to 5, objections are submitted to the issuance of the requested decision.
(3) Insofar as use is made of the empowerment in accordance with subsection (1) no. 1 as to the selection and appointment of a curator, the provisions of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction regarding the appointment of a custodian also apply to ordering custodianship and determining the group of tasks of the custodian in accordance with sections 1814 and 1815 of the Civil Code.
Section 19a
Proceedings in accordance with international insolvency law
(1) The following remain reserved to the judge in proceedings in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings (OJ EC No L 160 p. 1), and in accordance with Article 102 of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute:
1. the discontinuation of insolvency proceedings in favour of the courts of another Member State in accordance with Article 102 (4) of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute,
2. the ordering of measures to secure and preserve assets in accordance with Article 38 of Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000.
(2) The following remain reserved to the judge in the proceedings in accordance with the Implementing Act to the German-Austrian Bankruptcy Agreement of 8 March 1985 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 535):
1. discontinuation of proceedings in favour of the Austrian courts (sections 3 and 24 of the Implementing Act),
2. the appointment of a special bankruptcy or special settlement administrator if the bankruptcy or settlement administrator has been appointed by the judge (sections 4 and 24 of the Implementing Act),
3. the ordering of coercive measures including detention (section 11, 15 and 24 of the Implementing Act),
4. the decision on the interception of mail (sections 17 and 24 of the Implementing Act).
(3) In proceedings in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/848 and with Article 102c of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute, the following remain reserved to the judge:
1. ruling on the continuation of insolvency proceedings as secondary insolvency proceedings in accordance with Article 102c (2) (1) sentence 2 of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute,
2. discontinuation of insolvency proceedings in favour of another Member State in accordance with Article 102c (2) (1) sentence 2 of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute,
3. ruling on the right to vote in accordance with Article 102c (18) (1) sentence 2 of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute,
4. ruling on appeals and applications in accordance with Article 102c (21) of the Introductory Act to the Insolvency Statute,
5. ordering preservation measures in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EU) 2015/848,
6. competence for the group coordination proceedings in accordance with Chapter V Section 2 of Regulation (EU) 2015/848.
Section 19b
Proceedings under maritime law for distribution
(1) The following remain reserved to the judge in proceedings in accordance with the Maritime Distribution Statute:
1. the proceedings until the decision is taken on the opening application, including this decision and the nomination of the custodian;
2. the decision that and in what manner a security which has become insufficient in the course of the proceedings is to be supplemented or another security is to be paid (section 6 (5) of the Maritime Distribution Statute);
3. the decision on the expansion of the proceedings to include claims for personal injury (sections 16, 30 and 44 of the Maritime Distribution Statute);
4. the ruling on the admission of compulsory execution in accordance with section 17 (4) of the Maritime Distribution Statute;
5. the order to retain portions in the distribution in accordance with section 26 (5) of the Maritime Distribution Statute.
(2) The judge may fully or partly reserve the proceedings for distribution if he or she considers this to be required. If he or she no longer considers the reservation to be required, he or she may assign the proceedings to the senior judicial officer. Also after assignment, he or she may reassign the proceedings back to himself or herself if and so long as he or she considers this to be necessary.
Division 3
Tasks assigned to the senior judicial officer in accordance with section 3 no. 3
Section 20
Civil legal disputes
The following tasks in proceedings in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure are assigned to the senior judicial officer:
1. the payment order proceedings within the meaning of the Book 7 of the Code of Civil Procedure, including the determination of the objection period in accordance with section 700 (1) in conjunction with section 339 (2) and (3) of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as the transfer to the court designated as having jurisdiction for the contentious proceedings, also insofar as the payment order proceedings are processed automatically; the contentious proceedings however remain reserved to the judge;
3. the decisions to be taken on refunding securities in accordance with sections 109 and 715 of the Code of Civil Procedure;
4. in the proceedings on legal aid
a) the measures designated in section 118 (2) of the Code of Civil Procedure, including the certification of settlements in accordance with section 118 (1) second half of sentence 3, if the presiding judge assigns this to the senior judicial officer;
b) the determination of the time for discontinuation and resumption of the payments in accordance with section 120 (3) of the Code of Civil Procedure;
c) the alteration and the rescission of the approval of legal aid in accordance with sections 120a and 124 (1) nos. 2 to 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure;
5. the proceedings on granting legal aid in cases in which, outside or after conclusion of court proceedings, the approval of legal aid is applied for only for compulsory execution; the proceedings on the approval of legal aid however remain reserved to the judge in cases in which execution is incumbent on the trial court, or in which legal aid is applied for in order to take legal action or mount a legal defence, thereby requiring another judicial act;
6. in the proceedings on cross-border legal aid within the European Union, the measures designated in section 1077 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as the decisions incumbent on the execution court in accordance with section 1078 of the Code of Civil Procedure; if legal aid is applied for in legal action or in mounting a legal defence which requires a judicial act, the decision remains reserved to the judge in accordance with section 1078 of the Code of Civil Procedure;
6a. the decisions in accordance with section 22 (3) of the Act for the Recovery of Maintenance in Relations with Foreign States of 23 May 2011 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 898);
7. the European order for payment procedure within the meaning of Division 5 of Book 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, including transferring them to the court designated as having jurisdiction for the contentious proceedings, also where the European order for payment procedure is processed automatically; the review of the European payment order, and the contentious proceedings, however remain reserved to the judge;
8. the issuance of certificates in accordance with Article 13 (1) (e) and (3) of the Hague Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements;
9. the issuance of certificates in accordance with Article 12 (1) (d) and (3) of the Hague Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters;
10. the preparation of an extract in accordance with Article 20 (1) (b) of Council Regulation No 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations;
11. the issuance, correction and revocation of confirmation in accordance with sections 1079 to 1081 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the issuance of confirmation in accordance with section 1106 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as the issuance of a certificate in accordance with section 1110 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the issuance of a certificate in accordance with Article 45 (3) (b), Article 59 (2) and Article 60 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1103, or with Article 45 (3) (b), Article 59 (2) and Article 60 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1104;
12. the issuance of the enforceable copies in cases falling under section 726 (1), sections 727 to 729, 733, 738, 742, 744 and 745 (2), as well as section 749, of the Code of Civil Procedure;
13. the issuance of further enforceable copies of court documents and the decision on the application to issue further enforceable copies of notarial documents in accordance with section 797 (2) no. 2(c) of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the decision on the issuance of further enforceable copies in accordance with section 60 sentence 3 no. 2 of Book 8 of the Social Code;
14. the order that the party which has had an arrest warrant or an injunction issued must lodge an action within a period which is to be determined (section 926 (1) and section 936 of the Code of Civil Procedure);
15. the decision on applications to rescind a seizure that has been enforced on deposit of the amount of money determined in the writ of seizure (section 934 (1) of the Code of Civil Procedure);
16. the attachment of receivables, as well as the ordering of the attachment of registered ships or ships under construction from a writ of seizure, unless the writ of seizure at the same time contains the attachment order or the ordering of attachment;
16a. the order that the article be auctioned off and the proceeds be deposited, in accordance with section 21 of the Recognition and Execution Implementation Act (Anerkennungs- und Vollstreckungsausführungsgesetz) of 19 February 2001 (Federal Law Gazette I, pp. 288 and 436), in accordance with section 51 of the Act for the Recovery of Maintenance in Relations with Foreign States of 23 May 2011 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 898), in accordance with section 17 of the International Inheritance Law Procedure Act and with section 17 of the International Matrimonial Property Act (Internationales Güterrechtsverfahrensgesetz);
17. the tasks to be carried out in compulsory execution proceedings in accordance with Book 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure
a) by the execution court, or by a court requested by the latter,
b) by another local court in cases falling under sections 848, 854 and 855 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or
c) by the distribution court (in accordance with section 873 of the Code of Civil Procedure),
with the proviso that rulings in accordance with section 766 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as with Article 34 (1) (b) and (2) of Regulation (EU) No 655/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 establishing a European Account Preservation Order procedure to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters (OJ L 189 of 27 June 2014, p. 59), remain reserved to the judge.
(2) The Land governments are authorised to determine, by statutory instrument, that the verification of the personal and economic circumstances in accordance with sections 114 to 116 of the Code of Civil Procedure, including the measures designated in section 118 (2) of the Code of Civil Procedure, the certification of settlements in accordance with section 118 (1) sentence 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and of rulings in accordance with section 118 (2) sentence 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, is to be carried out by the senior judicial officer if the presiding judge assigns the proceedings to the senior judicial officer in this regard. Section 5 (1) no. 2 does not apply in this case. If the preconditions for the approval of legal aid do not apply accordingly, the senior judicial officer takes the decision rejecting the application; otherwise, the senior judicial officer notes in the procedural files that the applicant can be granted legal aid in accordance with his or her personal and economic circumstances and in what amount any appropriate monthly instalments, or amounts from the assets, are to be paid.
(3) The Land governments may assign the empowerment in accordance with subsection (2) to the Land departments of justice.
Section 21
Declaratory proceedings
The following tasks are assigned to the senior judicial officer in the declaratory proceedings:
1. the determination of the costs in cases in which sections 103 et seqq. of the Code of Civil Procedure are to apply;
2. the determination of the remuneration of the lawyer in accordance with section 11 of the Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz);
3. the determination of the court costs in accordance with the statutes and instruments on the implementation of treaties with foreign states on mutual assistance, as well as the recognition and execution of court rulings and of other instruments of indebtedness in civil and commercial cases.
Section 22
Court tasks in criminal and regulatory fines proceedings
Of the court tasks in criminal and regulatory fines proceedings, the decision on applications for a declaratory judgment in accordance with section 52 (2) and section 53 (3) of the Lawyers’ Remuneration Act is assigned to the senior judicial officer.
Section 23
Proceedings before the Federal Patent Court
(1) The following tasks are assigned to the senior judicial officer in proceedings before the Federal Patent Court:
1. the decisions to be taken in accordance with sections 109 and 715 of the Code of Civil Procedure in conjunction with section 99 (1) of the Patent Act in the refund of securities in cases falling under section 81 (6) and section 85 (2) and (6) of the Patent Act, as well as section 20 of the Design Model Act;
2. with legal aid (sections 129 to 137 of the Patent Act, section 21 (2) of the Utility Models Act [Gebrauchsmustergesetz], section 81a (2) of the Trademark Act [Markengesetz], section 24 of the Design Act [Designgesetz], section 11 of the Semiconductor Protection Act [Halbleiterschutzgesetz], and section 36 of the Plant Variety Rights Act [Sortenschutzgesetz]), the measures designated in section 20 (1) no. 4;
4. the announcement that an action, an application for an injunction, an application for a court ruling in objection proceedings, as well as a complaint, is not deemed to have been lodged (section 6 (2) of the Patent Cost Act [Patentkostengesetz]), or an action in accordance with section 81 (6) sentence 3 of the Patent Act is deemed to have been withdrawn;
5. the determination of a period for subsequently submitting the written proxy (section 97 (2) sentence 2 of the Patent Act, section 18 (2) of the Utility Models Act, section 4 (4) sentence 3 of the Semiconductor Protection Act, section 81 (2) sentence 3 of the Trademark Act [Markengesetz] and section 23 (4) sentence 4 of the Design Act);
6. the order to submit original documents, duplicates or certified duplicates of printed matter which are not available in the German Patent and Trade Mark Office and in the Federal Patent Court (section 125 (1) of the Patent Act, section 18 (2) of the Utility Models Act and section 4 (4) sentence 3 of the Semiconductor Protection Act);
7. the instruction to designate a representative in accordance with section 25 of the Patent Act, section 28 of the Utility Models Act, section 11 (2) of the Semiconductor Protection Act, section 96 of the Trademark Act and section 58 of the Design Act;
9. the issuance of the executable copies in cases falling under section 20 (1) no. 12 of the present Act in conjunction with section 99 (1) of the Patent Act, section 18 (2) of the Utility Models Act, section 4 (4) sentence 3 of the Semiconductor Protection Act, section 82 (1) of the Trademark Act and section 23 (2) sentence 4 of the Design Act;
10. the issuance of further executable copies of court certificates in accordance with section 797 (2) no. 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure in conjunction with section 99 (1) of the Patent Act, section 18 (2) of the Utility Models Act, section 4 (4) sentence 3 of the Semiconductor Protection Act, section 82 (1) of the Trademark Act, and section 23 (2) sentence 4 of the Design Act;
11. the decision on applications to grant inspection of files to third parties if no person concerned lodges objections and these are not files of patent applications, patents, utility model applications, utility models, topography applications, or registered topographies for which no disclosure whatsoever is made (sections 50 and 99 (3) of the Patent Act, sections 9 and 18 (2) of the Utility Models Act, section 4 (4) sentence 3 of the Semiconductor Protection Act, section 82 (3) of the Trademark Act, and section 23 (2) sentence 4 of the Design Act);
12. the determination of the costs in accordance with sections 103 et seqq. of the Code of Civil Procedure in conjunction with section 80 (5), section 84 (2) sentence 2, section 99 (1), section 109 (3) of the Patent Act, section 18 (2) of the Utility Models Act, section 4 (4) sentence 3 of the Semiconductor Protection Act, section 71 (5), section 82 (1), section 90 (4) of the Trademark Act, and section 23 (4) and (5) of the Design Act;
13. the issuance of the executable copies in cases falling under section 125a of the Trademark Act and section 64 of the Design Act.
(2) A reminder is admissible against the decisions of the senior judicial officer in accordance with subsection (1). It is to be lodged within a period of two weeks. Section 11 (1) and (2) sentence 1 does not apply.
Section 24
Recording of declarations
(1) The following tasks of the registry are assigned to the senior judicial officer:
1. the recording of declarations regarding the submission and reasoning
a) of legal complaints and further complaints,
b) of an appeal on points of law in criminal cases;
2. the recording of an application to resume the proceedings (section 366 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and section 85 of the Act on Regulatory Offences).
(2) Furthermore, the senior judicial officer is to record:
1. other appeals insofar as they are reasoned at the same time;
2. actions and responses to actions;
3. other applications and declarations which can be submitted for recording to the registry insofar as they are comparable in terms of their difficulty and significance with the tasks designated in nos. 1 and 2.
(1) The following tasks are assigned to the senior judicial officer:
1. the decision regarding applications to grant and withdraw legal advice aid, including cross-border legal advice aid in accordance with section 10 (4) of the Legal Advice Aid Act (Beratungshilfegesetz);
2. the tasks assigned to the local court in accordance with section 3 (2) of the Legal Advice Aid Act.
(2) Section 11 (2) sentences 1 to 4 and subsection (3) do not apply.
Section 24b
Administrative assistance
(1) The Land governments are authorised to assign, by statutory instrument, the tasks of administrative assistance to the senior judicial officer.
(2) The Land governments may assign the empowerment to the Land departments of justice.
Division 4
Other provisions in the field of the constitution of the courts
Section 25
Other tasks in the field of family cases
The following further tasks in family cases, including the corresponding life partnership cases, are assigned to the senior judicial officer:
a) proceedings in accordance with section 231 (2) of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction, unless proceedings are pending in accordance with section 231 (1) of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
b) the quantification of a maintenance title in accordance with section 245 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
c) the simplified proceedings regarding the maintenance of minors;
3. in matrimonial property cases
a) the substitution of the approval of a spouse, life partner or offspring in accordance with section 1452 of the Civil Code,
b) the decision on the deferment of an equalisation claim and assignment of assets in accordance with sections 1382 and 1383 of the Civil Code, in each case also in conjunction with section 6 sentence 2 of the Life Partnerships Act (Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz), with the exception of the decision in cases falling under section 1382 (5) and section 1383 (3) of the Civil Code, in each case also in conjunction with section 6 sentence 2 of the Life Partnerships Act
c) the ruling on the deferment of a receivable resulting from a settlement and assignment of assets in accordance with section 1519 of the Civil Code in conjunction with Article 12 (2) sentence 2 and Article 17 of the Agreement of 4 February 2010 between the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic establishing an Optional Regime of Participation in Matrimonial Assets (Abkommen zwischen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der Französischen Republik über den Güterstand der Wahl-Zugewinngemeinschaft), in each case also in conjunction with section 7 of the Act on Life Partnerships, unless a legal dispute becomes pending regarding the receivable resulting from a settlement;
4. in proceedings in accordance with the Act on the EU Violence Protection Procedure (EU-Gewaltschutzverfahrensgesetz) of 5 December 2014 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 1964), the issuance of certificates in accordance with Article 5 (1) and Article 14 (1) of Regulation (EU) No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters (OJ L 181 of 29 June 2013, p. 4) as well as their rectification and withdrawal in accordance with Article 9 (1) of Regulation (EU) No 606/2013.
The tasks corresponding to section 20 (1) nos. 4 and 5 are assigned to the senior judicial officer in proceedings regarding legal aid in accordance with the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction. Section 20 (2) and (3) applies accordingly.
Section 26
Relationship between the senior judicial officer and the clerk of the registry
The competence of the clerk of the registry in accordance with the statutory provisions remains unaffected unless provided otherwise in section 20 (1) no. 12 (re sections 726 et seqq. of the Code of Civil Procedure), in section 21 no. 1 (Declaratory proceedings) and in section 24 (Recording of declarations).
Section 27
Obligation to perform other official duties
(1) By the employment of a civil servant as a senior judicial officer, his or her obligation to perform other official duties, including the tasks of the clerk of the registry, is unaffected.
(2) The provisions of the present Act do not apply to the other official duties of a civil servant entrusted with the tasks of the senior judicial officer.
Section 28
Judge with jurisdiction
Insofar as the judge is called upon in accordance with the present Act to perform matters which are assigned to the senior judicial officer for independent performance, the court to be determined in accordance with the general procedural provisions has jurisdiction for this in the constitution prescribed for the respective official act.
Division 5
Tasks assigned to the senior judicial officer in other fields
Section 29
Tasks in international legal relations
The following tasks are assigned to the judicial officer:
1. the execution of foreign requests for service assigned by law to the registry of the local court,
2. the acceptance of applications for support in maintenance cases in accordance with section 7 of the Act for the Recovery of Maintenance in Relations with Foreign States of 23 May 2011 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 898), as well as decisions on applications in accordance with section 10 (3) of the Act for the Recovery of Maintenance in Relations with Foreign States;
3. the acceptance of applications in accordance with section 42 (1) and the decision on applications in accordance with section 5 (2) of the International Family Law Procedure Act of 26 January 2005 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 162).
Section 31
Tasks of the criminal prosecution office in criminal and regulatory fine proceedings and execution in criminal and regulatory fine cases, as well as of measures to maintain public order and means of coercion
(1) Of the tasks of the criminal prosecution office in the criminal proceedings, the following are assigned to the senior judicial officer:
1. the tasks in execution of seizure (section 111c (3) sentence 1 and subsection (4) sentences 2 and 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure),
2. the tasks in execution of seizure and in execution of the attachment of assets, as well as the ordering of distress sale and the further orders issued during implementation (sections 111k and 111p of the Code of Criminal Procedure), insofar as the corresponding tasks have been assigned to the senior judicial officer in compulsory execution and seizure proceedings,
3. tasks related to insolvency proceedings (section 111i of the Code of Criminal Procedure), and
4. tasks related to the administration of seized or attached objects (section 111m of the Code of Criminal Procedure), and
5. tasks related to the execution of the surrender of movable property which has been seized (section 111n in conjunction with section 111c (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure).
Sentence 1 applies accordingly in regulatory fine cases to transactions of the public prosecution office.
(2) The tasks incumbent on the execution authority in criminal and regulatory fine cases are assigned to the senior judicial officer. Decisions in accordance with section 114 of the Youth Courts Act are excluded therefrom. Sentence 1 applies accordingly insofar as measures to maintain public order and means of coercion are implemented by the criminal prosecution office.
(2a) The senior judicial officer submits the cases assigned to him or her in accordance with subsection (2) sentence 1 to the public prosecutor if
1. he or she wishes to derogate from a view held by the public prosecutor known to him or her, or
2. such a close link exists between the assigned task and a task to be carried out by the public prosecutor that separate processing of the matters is not expedient, or
3. a measure to maintain public order or a means of coercion has been imposed by the public prosecutor and the latter has reserved the submission fully or in part.
(2b) The senior judicial officer may submit the tasks which have been assigned to him or her in accordance with subsection (2) sentence 1 to the public prosecutor if
1. reservations emerge during processing against the admissibility of execution, or
2. a judgment is to be executed which has been challenged by a co-accused by means of an appeal on points of law.
(2c) The cases that have been submitted are processed by the public prosecutor as long as he or she considers this to be necessary. He or she may return the cases to the senior judicial officer. The senior judicial officer is bound by a legal view, or by instructions thereby issued.
(3) The judicial execution of measures to maintain public order and means of coercion is assigned to the senior judicial officer, unless the judge reserves execution fully or in part in individual cases.
(5) Supervision of execution in the youth custody proceedings remains reserved to the judge. The execution of tasks by means of which a judicial execution order or a general administrative provision not concerning the supervision of execution is implemented is assigned to the senior judicial officer. The Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection is authorised, by statutory instrument requiring the approval of the Bundesrat, in the field of execution in youth custody proceedings, to assign non-judicial tasks to the senior judicial officer unless the supervision of execution by the youth court judge is impaired or the duty of execution must be reserved to the official charged with the supervision of execution because of its legal difficulty, because of what is at stake for the person concerned, above all for educational reasons, or to safeguard uniform application of the law. The judge may order the submission of assigned execution duties.
(6) The remedy is available against the measures of the senior judicial officer which is admissible in accordance with the general provisions of procedural law. If no remedy is available according to these, the judge or public prosecutor in whose place the senior judicial officer acted decides on objections. He or she may issue instructions to the senior judicial officer. The powers of the head of the authority emerging from sections 145 and 146 of the Courts Constitution Act (Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz) remain unaffected.
(7) Further, federal and Land law provisions which regulate the execution of property fines in administrative enforcement proceedings remain unaffected.
Section 32
Provisions not to be applied
Sections 5 to 11 do not apply to the tasks assigned to the senior judicial officer in accordance with sections 29 and 31.
Section 33
Arrangement for the transitional period, qualification for the office of public notary
(1) Judicial officers who do not meet the prerequisites of section 2 may be entrusted with the tasks of a senior judicial officer if they passed the examination for the higher intermediate judicial service prior to 1 September 1976 in accordance with the respectively applicable provisions, insofar as they have not taken an examination, if they have worked as a senior judicial officer, not only temporarily, prior to 1 July 1970.
(2) A civil servant of the judicial service who has acquired the qualification for the office of public notary in the Land Baden-Württemberg may also be entrusted with the tasks of a senior judicial officer.
(3) If an official of the judicial service in accordance with subsection (2) performs tasks in accordance with section 3 no. 2 (b), (c) or (i), neither section 15 (1) nos. 1 to 3, nor section 16, applies. The following remain reserved to the judge:
1. ordering presentation before the judge in accordance with section 278 (5) of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction,
2. ordering, expanding or lifting a reservation of consent, and
3. the issuance of a measure related to an examination of the state of health, to medical treatment, or to a medical intervention in accordance with section 1867, also in conjunction with section 1888 (1) of the Civil Code.
Section 33a
Transitional arrangement for the execution of youth custody
The provisions on the reduction of the burden of the youth court judge in criminal execution matters continue to apply until the entry into force of the statutory instrument to be issued on the basis of the empowerment in accordance with section 31 (5).
Section 34
Implementation of tasks of senior judicial officers who are competent for a given matter
(1) The proviso to the present Act contained in Annex I Chapter III Subject Area A Section III no. 3 of the Unification Treaty (Einigungsvertrag) of 31 August 1990 (Federal Law Gazette 1990 II, p. 889) no longer apply after 31 December 1996.
(2) Employees who were entrusted with senior judicial officers’ tasks (senior judicial officers who are competent for a given matter) in accordance with this proviso may continue to perform the tasks of a senior judicial officer in the fields assigned to them after expiry of the period named in subsection (1).
(3) Senior judicial officers who are competent for a given matter may also be entrusted with senior judicial officers’ tasks in further matters after 31 December 1996 if they are suited to perform tasks in these areas on the basis of further training measures. This applies accordingly to employees who at this time have only successfully attended further training measures for the tasks of judicial administration which are carried out by civil servants of the higher intermediate service.
Section 34a
Training of senior judicial officers who are competent for a given matter to become senior judicial officers
(1) Senior judicial officers who are competent for a given matter who have attended training courses intended for them at a University of Applied Sciences, and who have successfully completed this training by passing an examination, obtain the status of a senior judicial officer, and may be entrusted with all senior judicial officers’ tasks. The training courses last a total of eighteen months, and impart to the participants the theoretical knowledge and methods, as well as the practical vocational skills and knowledge which are required to carry out the tasks of a senior judicial officer.
(2) Successfully-completed basic and further training courses which a senior judicial officer who is competent for a given matter has attended since 3 October 1990 may be counted towards the training courses intended for the areas in question in accordance with subsection (1). It is possible for an examination in accordance with subsection (1) not to be required in these areas.
(3) The Länder may provide that the examination in accordance with subsection (1) in each case is to be taken for the individual areas at the end of the training courses.
(4) Details are regulated by Land law.
Section 35a
Senior court clerks and order-drafters in Baden-Württemberg
(1) Senior court clerks with a qualification for the higher intermediate administrative or judicial service who have exercised the office within the meaning of section 32 of the Land Act on Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction (Landesgesetz über die freiwillige Gerichtsbarkeit) on a non-temporary basis for at least three years up to 31 December 2017 may carry out the tasks of a senior judicial officer in matters related to land registers as civil servants in the service of the Land. The Land ensures the technical qualification by providing suitable further training.
(2) Civil servants in the intermediate service who have been employed in the judicial service for at least five years, and who were primarily deployed as order-drafters in land registry offices prior to 1 January 2018, may carry out the tasks of a senior judicial officer in matters related to land registers as civil servants in the service of the Land. Prior to carrying out the tasks of a senior judicial officer, these civil servants must successfully attend courses at a University of Applied Science intended for them lasting at least eight months which impart the theoretical knowledge and methods, as well as the practical vocational abilities and knowledge which are needed to perform the tasks of a senior judicial officer in matters related to land registers.
(3) The details are regulated by Land law.
Section 36 rescinded by Article 6 no. 2 of the Act of 15 July 2009 I, 1798 with effect from 1 January 2018.
Section 36a
Reserve for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Section 24 (2) applies in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, with the proviso that the senior judicial officer is only to record the applications and declarations designated therein if this is necessary because of the connection with a task which he or she is to carry out, because of legal difficulties or for other reasons.
Section 36b
Assignment of senior judicial officers’ tasks to the clerk of the registry
(1) The Land governments are authorised, by statutory instrument, to assign the following tasks to be carried out by the senior judicial officer in accordance with the present Act, completely or partly to the clerk of the registry:
1. the tasks in the recording of wills and contracts of inheritance for official custody in accordance with sections 346 and 347 of the Act on the Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-contentious Jurisdiction (section 3 no. 2 (c));
2. the reminder proceedings within the meaning of Book 7 of the Code of Civil Procedure, including the setting of the deadline for an objection in accordance with section 700 (1) in conjunction with section 339 (2) and (3) of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as submission to the court designated as having jurisdiction for the contentious proceedings, also insofar as the reminder proceedings are processed automatically (section 20 (1) no. 1);
3. the granting of a further executable copy in cases falling under section 733 of the Code of Civil Procedure (section 20 (1) no. 12);
4. the granting of further executable copies of court certificates in accordance with section 797 (2) no. 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure (section 20 (1) no. 13);
5. the tasks incumbent on the criminal prosecution office as the execution authority in criminal and regulatory fine cases on execution of criminal and regulatory fines (section 31 (2)); this does not include the execution of imprisonment for failure to pay a fine.
The Land governments may assign the empowerment to the Land departments of justice.
(2) The clerk of the registry takes all measures which are required to carry out the tasks assigned to him or her. The provisions regarding the submission of specific tasks by the senior judicial officer to the judge or public prosecutor (sections 5, 28 and 31 (2a) and (2b)) apply accordingly.
(3) A ruling of the trial court to amend a decision of the clerk of the registry (section 573 of the Code of Civil Procedure) may not be applied for when carrying out tasks in accordance with subsection (1) sentence 1 no. 2, in cases falling under sections 694 and 696 (1), and section 700 (3), of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(4) When carrying out tasks in accordance with subsection (1) sentence 1 no. 5, objections against measures of the clerk of the registry are decided on by the senior judicial officer in whose place the clerk has acted. He or she may issue instructions to the clerk. The powers of the head of the authority from sections 145 and 146 of the Courts Constitution Act remain unaffected.
Section 37
Senior judicial officers’ tasks in accordance with Land law
The Länder may assign to the senior judicial officer tasks which are assigned to the courts by provisions of Land law.
Section 38
Rescission and amendment of provisions
(1) (Rescission of provisions)
Annex EV
Excerpt from Unification Treaty (EinigVtr) Annex I
Chapter III Subject Area A Sections III and IV
(Federal Law Gazette II 1990, 889, 927, 941)
- Provisos for the acceding territory (Article 3 of the Unification Treaty) -
- Special arrangement for the Land Berlin -
Subject to the special arrangement for the Land Berlin contained in Section IV, federal law enters into force ... in the territory designated in Article 3 of the Treaty with the following provisos:
3. Act on Senior Judicial Officers of 5 November 1969 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 2065), as last amended by Article 9 (2) of the Act of 26 June 1990 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 1163), with the following provisos:
a) So long as and to the extent that senior judicial officers who have undergone training satisfying the requirements of section 2 are not available, or not available in sufficient numbers, the tasks of judicial administration assigned to senior judicial officers are carried out by judges and by notaries who have worked in the State Notary’s Office, and tasks of the public prosecution office, insofar as they have been assigned to the senior judicial officer by the Act on Senior Judicial Officers, are carried out by public prosecutors.
Court secretaries may perform tasks of senior judicial officers in fields which are or can be assigned to them for performance in accordance with the previous law of the territory designated in Article 3 of the Treaty.
Court secretaries may be entrusted with further tasks of senior judicial officers in accordance with detailed provisions of Land law if they are suited, on the basis of further training measures, to perform these tasks.
b) The Land departments of justice may determine that persons may also be entrusted with tasks of a senior judicial officer who have a level of knowledge and performance in the field which is to be assigned to them, comparable to the level imparted by the training in accordance with section 2.
c) Section 11 (3) applies to challenging decisions which the judge has taken in place of the senior judicial officer; section 11 (5) remains unaffected.
28. The following general provisos apply in all other cases unless nos. 1 to 27 provide otherwise:
a) Insofar as in provisions which are enacted in the territory designated in Article 3 of the Treaty, or have been enacted on the basis of the State Treaty of 18 May 1990, refer to statutory provisions of the Federal Republic of Germany which do not apply in this territory, the corresponding provisions of the German Democratic Republic apply. If there are no such provisions, or if their application would contradict the purpose of the referral, the provisions to which reference is made apply accordingly.
b) Insofar as law of the German Democratic Republic which continues to apply refers to provisions which are no longer applicable, the corresponding provisions of the law of the Federal Republic of Germany apply.
c) Insofar as other provisions refer to provisions which are amended by this Treaty, they are substituted by the amended provisions.
d) Provisos a) to c) also apply if provisions link to specific sets of proceedings.
e) If in the provisions which are enacted in the territory designated in Article 3 of the Treaty, and in the law applicable in this territory, comparable authorities, other agencies or proceedings, are given different designations, the agencies or proceedings designated in the law applicable there substitute those which are designated in the provisions which are enforced; the same applies to deviations in the designation of other circumstances which are comparable in terms of their content.
f) Forms introduced by means of an ordinance may be used in an adapted form.
g) The proceedings that are pending on the date of accession becoming effective continue in the state which they have reached in accordance with the provisions that have been enacted.
h) The running of a deadline under procedural law which commenced prior to accession becoming effective is to be in accordance with the provisions applicable in the German Democratic Republic.
i) If an appeal or remedy has already been submitted on the date of accession becoming effective, or if it has not yet been submitted but the deadline for its submission has not yet expired, the admissibility of the appeal or remedy and of the further proceedings thereto is to be in accordance with the provisions which have been enacted. If, however, an appeal or remedy has already been lodged in compliance with the formal provisions of the law of the German Democratic Republic, derogating provisions on form do not make them inadmissible; applications for appeals and reasoning which are necessary in accordance with the provisions that have been enacted are to be subsequently submitted within one month after accession becoming effective. If the admissibility of an appeal in accordance with the provisions which have been enacted depends on its being admitted by the court whose decision has been challenged, the appeal court also rules on the admission of the appeal.
j) If, prior to accession becoming effective, an appeal or remedy has been admissibly lodged in accordance with the law of the German Democratic Republic, but is no longer admissible in accordance with the provisions that have been enacted, and is hence to be rejected, the costs and necessary expenses in the appeal or remedy proceedings are charged to the state treasury. The same applies to actions if the empowerment to lodge an action ceases to apply.
k) If competence for a case is transferred to another agency by virtue of the enactment of federal law in the territory designated in Article 3 of the Treaty, the agency previously competent promptly forwards the files and records related to this matter available to it to the agency now competent. The same applies to files and records which have been only temporarily handed to other agencies by the previously competent agency.
l) Appeal proceedings that are pending on the date of accession becoming effective are completed in accordance with the procedural law of the German Democratic Republic.
4. The provisos listed in Section III furthermore apply in the Land Berlin. They do not apply insofar as they are connected with the maintenance of the special court structure in the territory of Article 1 (1) of the Treaty.