Federal Office of Justice (BfJ)

The Federal Office of Justice (BfJ), based in Bonn, is the central federal authority for legal administration and registry control in Germany. It oversees, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Justice, compliance with disclosure obligations under §§ 325 ff. HGB and initiates penalty proceedings for violations of timely publication of financial statements in the Federal Gazette. The BfJ can impose penalties of up to €25,000 under § 335 HGB to ensure transparency and creditor protection. Additionally, the Federal Office operates the nationwide portal for insolvency announcements and the register portal of the states, through which commercial, cooperative, and partnership registers can be accessed online. Companies, creditors, investors, and journalists use the database to quickly retrieve current corporate information. As a legal remedy authority, the BfJ also executes international legal assistance, certifies documents (Hague Apostille), and manages the European Enforcement Portal. Thanks to its interfaces with the company register, Federal Gazette, and electronic legal communication, the Federal Office of Justice plays a key role in digital judicial administration in Germany. Many companies therefore rely on early communication with the BfJ to avoid fines and minimize compliance risks.