Übersetzung des Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuches durch ein Übersetzer-Team des Langenscheidt Übersetzungsservice. Laufende Aktualisierung der Übersetzung durch Neil Mussett und in seiner Nachfolge durch Samson Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen v. Schöning.

Translation provided by the Langenscheidt Translation Service. Translation regularly updated by Neil Mussett and most recently by Samson Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen v. Schöning.

Stand: Die Übersetzung berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 4 Abs. 5 des Gesetzes vom 1. Oktober 2013 (BGBl. I S. 3719).

Version information: The translation includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 4 para. 5 of the Act of 1 October 2013 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 3719).

Zur Nutzung dieser Übersetzung lesen Sie bitte den Hinweis unter "Translations".

For conditions governing use of this translation, please see the information provided under "Translations".

German Civil Code

BGB

Full citation: Civil Code in the version promulgated on 2 January 2002 (Federal Law Gazette [Bundesgesetzblatt] I page 42, 2909; 2003 I page 738), last amended by Article 4 para. 5 of the Act of 1 October 2013 (Federal Law Gazette I page 3719)

This statute serves to transpose into national law the following directives:

1. Council Directive 76/207/EEC of 9 February 1976 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions (OJ L 39 of 14 February 1976, p. 40),

2. Council Directive 77/187/EEC of 14 February 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees’ rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of businesses (OJ L 61 of 5 March 1977, p. 26),

3. Council Directive 85/577/EEC of 20 December 1985 to protect the consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises (OJ L 372 of 31 December 1985, p. 31),

4. Council Directive 87/102/EEC for the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning consumer credit (OJ L 42 of 12 February 1987, p. 48, last amended by Directive 98/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 amending Directive 87/102/EEC for the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning consumer credit (OJ L 101 of 1 April 1998, p. 17),

5. Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours (OJ L 158 of 23 June 1990, p. 59),

6. Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ L 95 of 21 April 1993, p. 29),

7. Directive 94/47/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 1994 on the protection of purchasers in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of the right to use immovable properties on a timeshare basis (OJ L 280 of 29 October 1994, p. 82),

8. Directive 97/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 on cross-border credit transfers (OJ L 43 of 14 February 1997, p. 25),

9. Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (OJ L 144 of 4 June 1997, p. 19),

10. Articles 3 to 5 of Directive 98/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 1998 on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems (OJ L 166 of 11 June 1998, p. 45),

11. Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees (OJ L 171 of 7 July 1999, p. 12),

12. Articles 10, 11 and 18 of Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market (“Directive on electronic commerce” OJ L 178 of 17 July 2000, p. 1),

13. Directive 2000/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on combating late payment in commercial transactions (OJ L 200 of 8 August 2000, p. 35).

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Book 1

General Part

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Division 1

Persons

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Title 1

Natural persons, consumers, entrepreneurs

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Section 1

Beginning of legal capacity

The legal capacity of a human being begins on the completion of birth.

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Section 2

Beginning of majority

Majority begins at the age of eighteen.

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Sections 3 – 6

(repealed)

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Section 7

Residence; establishment and termination

(1) A person who settles permanently in a place establishes his residence in that place.

(2) There may be a residence in more than one place at the same time.

(3) Residence is terminated if the person abandons the place of residence with the intention of giving it up.

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Section 8

Residence of persons who lack full capacity to contract

(1) A person who is not capable of contracting or who has limited capacity to contract can neither establish nor terminate residence without the consent of his legal representative.

(2) A minor who is or has been married may independently establish and terminate residence.

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Section 9

Residence of a soldier

(1) A soldier has his residence in his garrison. The residence of a soldier who has no garrison within the country is deemed to be his last garrison within the country.

(2) These provisions do not apply to soldiers who are merely doing compulsory military service or who cannot independently establish residence.

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Section 10

(repealed)

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Section 11

Residence of a child

A minor child shares the residence of its parents; it does not share the residence of a parent who lacks the right to care for the person of the child. If neither parent has the right to care for the person of the child, the child shares the residence of the person who has this right. The child retains the residence until it validly abandons it.

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Section 12

Right to a name

If the right of a person to use a name is disputed by another person, or if the interest of the person entitled to the name is injured by the unauthorised use of the same name by another person, the person entitled may require the other to remove the infringement. If further infringements are to be feared, the person entitled may seek a prohibitory injunction.

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Section 13

Consumer*)

A consumer means every natural person who enters into a legal transaction for purposes that predominantly are outside his trade, business or profession.

*) Official note: These provisions serve to implement the directives set out above under numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11.

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Section 14

Entrepreneur*)

(1) An entrepreneur means a natural or legal person or a partnership with legal personality who or which, when entering into a legal transaction, acts in exercise of his or its trade, business or profession.

(2) A partnership with legal personality is a partnership that has the capacity to acquire rights and to incur liabilities.

*) Official note: These provisions serve to implement the directives set out above under numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11.

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Sections 15 - 20

(repealed)

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Title 2

Legal persons

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Subtitle 1

Associations

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Chapter 1

General provisions

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Section 21

Non-commercial association

An association whose object is not commercial business operations acquires legal personality by entry in the register of associations of the competent local court [Amtsgericht].

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Section 22

Commercial association

An association whose object is commercial business operations acquires legal personality, for lack of special provisions under federal law, by state grant. The grant is in the power of the Land in whose territory the association has its seat.

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Section 23

(repealed)

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Section 24

Seat

The seat of an association, unless otherwise provided, is the place where the management is conducted.

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Section 25

Constitution

The constitution of an association with legal personality is, to the extent that it is not based on the following provisions, determined by the articles of association.

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Section 26

Board and representation

(1) An association must have a board. The board represents the association in court and out of court; it has the status of a legal representative. The extent of the power of agency may be restricted by the articles of association with effect against third parties.

(2) If the board consists of several persons, the association is represented by the majority of the board members. If a declaration of intent is to be submitted to an association, it is sufficient to submit it to one member of the board.

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Section 27

Appointment of and management by the board

(1) The appointment of the board is by resolution of the general meeting.

(2) The appointment is revocable at any time, notwithstanding the claim to payment in conformity with contract. The revocability may be restricted by the articles of association to the case where there is a compelling reason for the revocation; such a reason includes without limitation a gross breach of duty or inability to effect proper management.

(3) The management by the board is governed by the provisions on mandate in sections 664 to 670 with the necessary modifications.

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Section 28

Passing of resolutions by the board

In case of a board consisting of more than one person, resolutions are passed under the provisions of sections 32 and 34, which govern the resolutions of the members of the association.

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Section 29

Emergency appointment by local court [Amtsgericht]

To the extent that the board is lacking the necessary members, they are to be appointed, in urgent cases, for the period until the defect is corrected, on the application of a person concerned, by the local court [Amtsgericht] that keeps the register of associations for the district in which the association has its seat.

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Section 30

Special representatives

It may be provided by the articles of association that, in addition to the board, special representatives are to be appointed for particular transactions. In case of doubt, the power of agency of such a representative extends to all legal transactions that the sphere of business allocated to him normally entails.

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Section 31

Liability of an association for organs

The association is liable for the damage to a third party that the board, a member of the board or another constitutionally appointed representative causes through an act committed by it or him in carrying out the business with which it or he is entrusted, where the act gives rise to a liability in damages.

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Section 31a

Liability of members of executive bodies and special representatives

(1) If members of executive bodies or special representatives act free of charge, or if they receive remuneration for their activity which does not exceed 720 euros per year, they are liable towards the association for damage caused in performing their duties only in case of intent or gross negligence. Sentence 1 also applies to liability towards the members of the association. If there is a dispute as to whether a member of an executive body or a special representative has caused damage with intent or gross negligence, the burden of proof is incumbent on the association or on the member of the association.

(2) If members of executive bodies or special representatives are obliged under subsection (1) sentence 1 to provide to another party compensation for damage which they caused in performing their duties, they may demand from the association to be released from the obligation. Sentence 1 does not apply if the damage was caused with intent or gross negligence.

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Section 31b

Liability of members of the association

(1) If members of the association act for the association free of charge, or if they receive remuneration for their activity which does not exceed 720 euros per year, they are liable to provide to the association compensation for damage caused in performing the duties of the association, in accordance with the articles of association, that have been assigned to them, only in case of intent or gross negligence. Section 31a (1) sentence 3 applies with the necessary modifications.

(2) If members of the association are obliged under subsection (1) sentence 1 to provide to another party compensation for damage which they caused in performing the duties of the association, in accordance with the articles of association, that have been assigned to them, they may require the association to release them from the obligation. Sentence 1 does not apply if the members of the association have caused the damage with intent or gross negligence.

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Section 32

General meeting; passing of resolutions

(1) The affairs of the association, to the extent that they are not to be attended to by the board or another organ of the association, are dealt with by resolution in a meeting of the members. In order for the resolution to be valid, it is necessary for the subject to be stated when the meeting is convened. The resolution is decided by the majority of the votes cast.

(2) Even without a meeting of the members, a resolution is valid if all members declare their approval of the resolution in writing.

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Section 33

Amendment of articles of association

(1) A resolution containing an amendment of the articles of association must have a majority of three quarters of the votes cast. In order to alter the objects of the association, the approval of all members is necessary; the approval of the members not present must be declared in writing.

(2) If the legal personality of the association results from a grant, the consent of the competent authority is necessary for every amendment of the articles of association.

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Section 34

Exclusion from voting

A member has no right to vote if the resolution concerns entering into a legal transaction with him or commencing or disposing of litigation between him and the association.

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Section 35

Special rights

Special rights of a member may not be adversely affected by a resolution of the general meeting without his approval.

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Section 36

Convening of the general meeting

(1) The general meeting is to be convened in the cases laid down in the articles of association and when the interests of the association require it.

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Section 37

Convening a meeting at the request of a minority

(1) The general meeting is to be convened if the proportion of the membership laid down in the articles of association or, in the absence of a provision, one-tenth of the members call in writing for a meeting to be convened, stating the purpose and the reasons.

(2) If the request is not granted, the local court [Amtsgericht] may authorise the members who made the request to convene the meeting; it may make orders on the conduct of the chairmanship at the meeting. The court with jurisdiction is the local court [Amtsgericht] that keeps the register of associations for the district in which the association has its seat. The authorisation must be referred to in the notice convening the meeting.

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Section 38

Membership

Membership is not transferable and not inheritable. The exercise of membership rights cannot be entrusted to another person.

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Section 39

Leaving the association

(1) The members have the right to leave the association.

(2) The articles of association may specify that leaving is admissible only at the end of a business year or only after a notice period; the maximum notice period is two years.

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Section 40

Flexible provisions

The provisions of section 26 (2) sentence 1, section 27 (1) and (3), sections 28 and 31a (1) sentence 2, as well as sections 32, 33 and 38, do not apply where otherwise provided by the articles of association. It is not possible to derogate from section 34 through the articles of association, even for the passing of resolutions by the board.

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Section 41

Dissolution of the association

An association may be dissolved by resolution of the general meeting. The resolution must have a majority of three-quarters of the votes cast, unless otherwise provided in the articles of association.

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Section 42

Insolvency

(1) An association is dissolved by the commencement of insolvency proceedings and on the order becoming legally final by means of which the commencement of the insolvency proceedings has been rejected for insufficiency of assets. If the proceedings are discontinued on the application of the debtor or terminated after the confirmation of an insolvency plan that provides for the association to continue in existence, the general meeting may pass a resolution that the association is to continue in existence. The articles of association may provide that, if insolvency proceedings are commenced, the association is to continue as an association without legal personality; in this case too, if the requirements of sentence two above are satisfied, a resolution may be passed to continue the association as an association with legal personality.

(2) If an association is insolvent or is overindebted, the board must petition for the commencement of insolvency proceedings. If there is delay in petitioning, the members of the board who are at fault are responsible to the creditors for the damage resulting from this; they are liable as joint and several debtors.

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Section 43

Deprivation of legal personality

An association whose legal personality is the result of a grant can be deprived of its legal personality if it pursues objects different from those in the articles of association.

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Section 44

Jurisdiction and proceedings

Jurisdiction and the procedure for the deprivation of legal personality under section 43 are decided under the law of the Land in which the association has its seat.

*) Under Article 129 of the Basic Law [Grundgesetz], the Federal Minister of the Interior [Bundesminister des Innern] is now competent.

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Section 45

Devolution of the assets of the association

(1) On the dissolution of the association or its deprivation of legal personality, the assets devolve on the persons specified in the articles of association.

(2) The articles of association may provide that the persons entitled to receive the assets are specified by a resolution of the general meeting or by another organ of the association. If the objects of the association are not commercial business operations, the general meeting may, even without such a provision, allocate the assets to a public foundation or institution.

(3) If no persons entitled are specified, then if according to its articles the association exclusively served the interests of its members, the assets pass in equal shares to the members at the date of the dissolution or the deprivation of legal personality, and failing this to the treasury of the Land in whose territory the association had its seat.

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Section 46

Devolution on the treasury

If the assets of the association devolve on the treasury, the provisions on an inheritance that devolves on the treasury as the heir on intestacy apply with the necessary modifications. The treasury shall if possible use the assets in a manner corresponding to the objects of the association.

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Section 47

Liquidation

If the assets of the association do not devolve on the treasury, there must be a liquidation, unless insolvency proceedings have commenced with regard to the assets of the association.

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Section 48

Liquidators

(1) The liquidation is effected by the board. Other persons may also be appointed as liquidators; the appointment is governed by the provisions for the appointment of the board.

(2) The liquidators have the legal status of the board, unless the purpose of the liquidation leads to a different conclusion.

(3) If there are several liquidators, they are only empowered to represent jointly, and can only enact orders unanimously, unless provided otherwise.

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Section 49

Duties of the liquidators

(1) The liquidators must complete the current business, collect the receivables, convert the rest of the assets into cash, satisfy the creditors and pay out the surplus to those entitled to receive it. In order to complete transactions that are in progress, the liquidators may also enter into new transactions. The collection of receivables and the conversion of the rest of the assets into cash may be omitted to the extent that these measures are not necessary to satisfy the creditors or to distribute the surplus among those entitled to receive it.

(2) The association is deemed to continue in existence until the end of the liquidation if the purpose of the liquidation requires this.

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Section 50

Public notice of the association in liquidation

(1) The dissolution of the association or its deprivation of legal personality must be announced by the liquidators in a public notice. In the notice, the creditors must be requested to register their claims. The public notice is made through the newspaper specified in the articles of association for this purpose. Public notice is deemed to have been made at the end of the second day after the publication or first publication.

(2) Known creditors must be requested by special invitation to register their claims.

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Section 50a

Newspaper for notices

If an association has not specified a newspaper in the articles of association, or if the newspaper specified for notices has ceased publication, notices of the association must be published in the newspaper that is specified for public notices of the local court [Amtsgericht] in whose district the association has its seat.

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Section 51

One-year waiting period

The property may not be paid out to the persons entitled to receive it until a year has passed after the announcement by public notice of the dissolution of the association or the deprivation of legal personality.

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Section 52

Security for creditors

(1) If a known creditor does not register his claim, the amount owed, if the right to deposit exists, must be deposited for the creditor.

(2) If the discharge of an obligation is not possible at the time, or if an obligation is disputed, the property may be distributed to the persons entitled to receive it only if security is provided to the creditor.

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Section 53

Liability in damages of the liquidators

Liquidators who commit breaches of their duties under section 42 (2) and sections 50, 51 and 52 or who, before the satisfaction of the creditors, distribute assets to the persons entitled to receive are, if they are at fault, responsible to the creditors for the damage resulting from this; they are liable as joint and several debtors.

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Section 54

Associations without legal personality

Associations without legal personality are governed by the provisions on partnership. When a transaction is entered into with a third party in the name of such an association, the person acting is personally liable; if more than one person acts, they are liable as joint and several debtors.

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Chapter 2

Registered associations

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Section 55

Jurisdiction over entry in the register

The entry of an association of the kind specified in section 21 above in the register of associations must be made at the local court [Amtsgericht] for the district in which the association has its seat.

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Section 55a

Electronic register of associations

(1) The Land governments may provide by statutory order that and to what extent the register of associations is maintained in electronic form as a computerised data file. It must be guaranteed that

1. the principles of proper data processing are observed, in particular that precautions against a loss of data are taken, the necessary copies of the databases are kept current at least on a daily basis and the original databases and copies of them are kept in safe custody.

2. the entries to be made are immediately entered into a memory and it remains permanently possible to reproduce their contents unchanged in readable form.

3. the measures required by the schedule to section 126 (1) sentence 2 no. 3 of the Land Register Code [Grundbuchordnung] are taken.

The Land governments may by statutory order transfer the authorisation under sentence 1 to the Land justice administration authorities.

(2) The electronic register of associations takes the place of one page of the previous register as soon as the entries on this page have been entered in the memory intended for the entries in the register of associations and made available as the register of associations. A note of closure must be added to the corresponding pages of the previous register of associations.

(3) An entry comes into effect as soon as it is entered in the memory intended for the register entries and its contents can be permanently reproduced unchanged and in readable form. There must be a verification, by a confirmation message or in another appropriate way, that these requirements are satisfied. Each entry should show the date on which it came into effect.

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Section 56

Minimum number of members of the association

The entry in the register should be made only if the number of members is at least seven.

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Section 57

Minimum requirements of the articles of association

(1) The articles of association must contain the objects, the name and the seat of the association and indicate that the association is to be registered.

(2) The name should differ appreciably from the names of the registered associations in existence in the same place or in the same municipality.

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Section 58

Recommended contents of the articles of association

The articles of association should contain provisions:

1. on becoming a member of the association and leaving it,

2. on whether the members are to make contributions, and if so, in what amount,

3. on the composition of the board,

4. on the conditions under which the general meeting is to be convened, on the form of the convening and on the notarial recording of the resolutions.

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Section 59

Application for registration

(1) The board must apply for the association to be registered.

(2) Copies of the articles of association and of the documents on the appointment of the board must be attached to the application.

(3) The articles of association should be signed by at least seven members and should state the date of their execution.

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Section 60

Rejection of the application

If the requirements of sections 56 to 59 above have not been met, the application must be rejected by the local court [Amtsgericht], stating the reasons.

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Sections 61 - 63

(repealed)

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Section 64

Contents of the entry in the register of associations

On entry in the register, the name and seat of the association, the date of the execution of the articles, the members of the board and their powers of representation are to be stated.

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Section 65

Addition to name

When the association is entered in the register, the name of the association is given the additional element “eingetragener Verein” [“registered association”].

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Section 66

Public notice of the entry and safekeeping of documents

(1) The local court [Amtsgericht] must publish the entry of the association in the register of associations by means of publication in the electronic information and communication system designated by the Land justice administration authority.

(2) The documents submitted with the application are kept by the local court [Amtsgericht].

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Section 67

Changes to the board

(1) Every change to the board must be notified by the board for registration. A copy of the document about the change is to be attached to the notification.

(2) Board members appointed by the court are entered in the register by the court at its own motion.

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Section 68

Protection of public confidence by the register of associations

If a transaction is entered into between the previous members of the board and a third party, the change of the board can be used as a defence against the third party only if at the time when the legal transaction is entered into the change has been recorded in the register of associations or is known to the third party. If the change has been entered, the third party need not allow it to apply against him if he does not know of it and his lack of knowledge does not result from negligence.

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Section 69

Evidence of composition of the board

Evidence that the board consists of the persons entered in the register is furnished to public authorities in the form of a local court [Amtsgericht] certificate confirming the entry.

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Section 70

Protection of public confidence in case of entries on power of agency; passing resolutions

The provisions of section 68 above also apply to provisions that restrict the scope of the power of agency of the board or that lay down different arrangements for the power of agency of the board than the provision in section 26 (2) sentence 1 above.

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Section 71

Amendments of the articles of association

(1) Amendments of the articles of association are effective only when entered in the register of associations. The board must make notification of the amendment for entry in the register. A copy of the order containing the amendment and of the wording of the articles of association is to be enclosed with the registration. In the wording of the articles of association, the amended provisions must agree with the order on the amendment of the articles of association, unchanged provisions must agree with the most recently submitted full wording of the articles of association and, if the articles of association have been amended without the full wording of the articles of association being submitted, must also agree with the previously-entered amendments.

(2) The provisions of sections 60, 64 and section 66 (2) apply with the necessary modifications.

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Section 72

Certificate on number of members

At the request of the local court [Amtsgericht] at any time, the board shall file a written confirmation on the number of members of the association.

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Section 73

Decrease in numbers of members

If the number of members of the association falls below three, the local court [Amtsgericht] shall, on an application by the board and, if the application is not made within three months, of its own motion, after hearing the board, deprive the association of legal personality.

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Section 74

Dissolution

(1) The dissolution of the association and the deprivation of legal personality must be entered in the register of associations.

(2) If the association is dissolved by resolution of the general meeting or by the expiry of the time determined for the duration of the association, the board must notify the dissolution to be registered. In the former case, a copy of the resolution for dissolution must be attached to the notification.

(3) (repealed)

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Section 75

Entries in the case of insolvency

The commencement of insolvency proceedings and the order finally rejecting the commencement of the insolvency proceedings for insufficiency of assets, as well as the dissolution of the association pursuant to section 42 (2) sentence 1, are to be registered by the court of its own motion. The following are also to be entered of its own motion

1. the reversal of the order commencing the insolvency proceedings,

2. the appointment of a provisional insolvency administrator, if in addition the debtor is generally enjoined from transferring assets or it is ordered that disposals by the debtor are effective only with the approval of the provisional administrator in insolvency proceedings, and the termination of such a protective measure,

3. an order of self-management by the debtor and the reversal of this order, and an order that specific legal transactions of the debtor require approval,

4. the discontinuance and termination of the proceedings and

5. the monitoring of compliance with an insolvency plan and the termination of the monitoring.

(2) If the association is continued by order of the general meeting pursuant to section 42 (1) sentence 2, the board must register the continuation for an entry. A copy of the order is to be enclosed with the registration.

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Section 76

Entry in case of liquidation

(1) In case of the liquidation of the association, the liquidators and their power of agency must be entered in the register of associations. The same applies to the termination of the association subsequent to liquidation.

(2) The notification of the liquidators for registration must be made by the board. The notification for registration must state the extent of the power of agency of the liquidators. Changes to the liquidators or their power of agency, as well as the termination of the association, are to be registered by the liquidators. The notification for registration of the liquidators appointed by resolution of the general meeting must have attached to it a copy of the appointing order, and the notification for registration of the power of agency which was determined by way of derogation from section 48 (3), i on the passing of resolutions by the liquidators must have attached to it a copy of the document containing this provision.

(3) Liquidators appointed by the court are entered in the register by the court of its own motion.

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Section 77

Parties obliged to notify and form of notification

The notifications for entry in the register of associations are to be submitted by members of the board and by the liquidators, who are entitled to represent the association in this regard by way of notarially certified statement. The submission may be submitted to the court in the original or in a publicly-certified copy.

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Section 78

Assessment of coercive fines

(1) The local court [Amtsgericht] may enjoin the members of the board to comply with the provisions of section 67 (1), section 71 (1), section 72, section 74 (2), section 75 (2) and section 76 by imposing coercive fines.

(2) In the same way, the liquidators may be enjoined to comply with the provisions of section 76.

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Section 79

Inspection of the register of associations

(1) Everyone is permitted to inspect the register of associations and the documents filed with the local court [Amtsgericht] by the association. A copy of the entries may be required; on request, the copy must be certified. If the register of associations is kept by computer, the copy is replaced by a print-out and the certified copy by an official print-out.

(2) The introduction of a computerised procedure enabling the data to be transmitted from electronic registers of associations by retrieval is admissible if it is guaranteed that

1. the retrieval of data does not exceed the inspection permitted under subsection (1) above and

2. the admissibility of the retrievals can be monitored on the basis of a log.

The Länder may specify a nationwide electronic information and communication system for the proceedings.

(3) The user must be informed that he can use the data transmitted only for information purposes. The competent agency must verify (e.g. by spot checks) whether there is evidence that the inspection permitted under sentence 1 above has been exceeded or transmitted data are being misused.

(4) The competent agency may exclude a user from taking part in the computerised retrieval procedure if he endangers the functional reliability of the retrieval equipment, exceeds the inspection permitted under subsection (3) sentence 1 above or abuses transmitted data; the same applies in the case of imminent exceeding of the permissible inspection or imminent abuse.

(5) The competent agency is the Land justice administration authority. The agency with local jurisdiction is the Land justice administration authority within whose portfolio the competent local court [Amtsgericht] falls. This provision on jurisdiction may be varied by statutory order of the Land government. The Land government may transfer this authorisation to the Land justice administration authority by statutory order. The Länder may also agree to the jurisdiction being transferred to the competent agency of another Land.

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Subtitle 2

Foundations

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Section 80

Formation of a foundation having legal personality

(1) The creation of a foundation with legal personality requires an endowment transaction and recognition of the foundation by the competent public authority of the Land in which the foundation is to have its seat.

(2) A foundation is to be recognised as having legal personality if the endowment transaction satisfies the requirements of section 81 (1) below, if the long-term and sustained achievement of the object of the foundation appears guaranteed and if the object of the foundation does not endanger the common good. In the case of a foundation which is established for a specific period the assets of which are to be depleted in pursuing its purpose (principal-depleting foundation), the ongoing performance of the object of the foundation is to be deemed secured if the foundation is to exist for a period defined in the endowment transaction which is at least ten years.

(3) Provisions of the Land legislation on church foundations are unaffected. The same applies with the necessary modifications to foundations which Land legislation treats as equivalent to church foundations.

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Section 81

Endowment transaction

(1) A lifetime endowment transaction must be in writing. It must contain the binding declaration by the founder that he will dedicate assets, which may also be intended for depletion, to achieve an object specified by himself. The endowment transaction must give the foundation a charter with provisions on

1. the name of the foundation,

2. the seat of the foundation,

3. the objects of the foundation,

4. the assets of the foundation,

5. the composition of the foundation board.

If the endowment transaction does not satisfy the requirements of sentence 3 above and if the founder is dead, section 83 sentences 2 to 4 apply with the necessary modifications.

(2) Until the foundation is recognised as having legal personality, the founder has a right to revoke the endowment transaction. If an application has been made for recognition by the competent public authority, the revocation may be declared only to that public authority. The heir of the founder is not entitled to revoke the endowment transaction if the founder made the application to the competent public authority, or, if the endowment transaction was notarially recorded, the founder, at or after the notarial recording, instructed the notary to make the application.

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Section 82

Duty of founder to make transfers

If the foundation is recognised as having legal personality, the founder has a duty to transfer to the foundation the assets promised in the endowment transaction. Rights that can be transferred by contract of transfer pass to the foundation on recognition, unless the endowment transaction indicates that the founder intended otherwise.

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Section 83

Testamentary foundation

If the endowment transaction is a testamentary disposition, the probate court must inform the competent public authority of this for the purpose of recognition, unless application is made by the heir or the executor. If the endowment transaction does not satisfy the requirements of section 81 (1) sentence 3, the foundation shall be given a charter or additions shall be made to an incomplete charter by the competent public authority before recognition; when this is done, the will of the founder is to be taken into account. The seat of a foundation, unless otherwise provided, is the place where the management is carried out. In case of doubt, the last residence of the founder within the country is deemed the seat.

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Section 84

Recognition after the death of the founder

If the foundation is recognised as having legal personality only after the death of the founder, then for the purpose of the endowment payments made by the founder it is deemed to have come into existence before his death.

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Section 85

Constitution of foundation

The constitution of a foundation, to the extent that it is not based on federal or Land legislation, is determined by the endowment transaction.

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Section 86

Application of law on associations

The provisions of sections 23 and 27 (3) and of sections 28 to 31a and section 42 apply with the necessary modifications to foundations; but the provisions of section 26 (2) sentence 1, of section 27 (3) and of section 28 apply only to the extent that the constitution, in particular the administration of the foundation by a public authority, does not lead to a different conclusion. The provisions of section 26 (2) sentence 2 sentence 2 and of section 29 do not apply to foundations whose administration is conducted by a public authority.

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Section 87

Change of objects; termination

(1) If the objects of the foundation have become impossible to fulfil, or if they endanger the common good, the competent public authority may give the foundation another intended purpose or terminate it.

(2) When the objects are altered, the intention of the founder should be taken into account, and in particular, it should be ensured that the income of the foundation assets is maintained for the group of persons that it was meant to benefit, as intended by the founder. The public authority may amend the constitution of the foundation to the extent that the alteration of the objects requires this.

(3) Before the objects are altered and the constitution is changed, the board of the foundation should be heard.

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Section 88

Devolution of property

When the foundation ceases to exist, the property devolves on the persons specified in the constitution. If no persons entitled are specified, the property devolves on the treasury of the Land in which the foundation had its seat, or on another person entitled to receive under the law of this Land. The provisions of sections 46 to 53 apply with the necessary modifications.

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Subtitle 3

Legal persons under public law

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Section 89

Liability for organs; insolvency

(1) The provision of section 31 applies with the necessary modifications to the treasury and to corporations, foundations and institutions under public law.

(2) The same applies, to the extent that insolvency proceedings are admissible with regard to corporations, foundations and institutions under public law, to the provision of section 42 (2).

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Division 2

Things and animals

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Section 90

Concept of the thing

Only corporeal objects are things as defined by law.

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Section 90a

Animals

Animals are not things. They are protected by special statutes. They are governed by the provisions that apply to things, with the necessary modifications, except insofar as otherwise provided.

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Section 91

Fungible things

Fungible things as defined by law are movable things that in business dealings are customarily specified by number, measure or weight.

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Section 92

Consumable things

(1) Consumable things as defined by law are movable things whose intended use consists in consumption or in disposal.

(2) Movable things are also regarded as consumable if they are part of a warehouse store or another aggregate of things whose intended use is the disposal of the individual things.

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Section 93

Essential parts of a thing

Parts of a thing that cannot be separated without one or the other being destroyed or undergoing a change of nature (essential parts) cannot be the subject of separate rights.

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Section 94

Essential parts of a plot of land or a building

(1) The essential parts of a plot of land include the things firmly attached to the land, in particular buildings, and the produce of the plot of land, as long as it is connected with the land. Seed becomes an essential part of the plot of land when it is sown, and a plant when it is planted.

(2) The essential parts of a building include the things inserted in order to construct the building.

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Section 95

Merely temporary purpose

(1) The parts of a plot of land do not include things that are connected with the land only for a temporary purpose. The same applies to a building or other structure that is connected with a plot of land belonging to another by a person exercising a right over that land.

(2) Things that are inserted into a building for a temporary purpose are not parts of the building.

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Section 96

Rights as parts of a plot of land

Rights that are connected with the ownership of a plot of land are regarded as parts of the plot of land.

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Section 97

Accessories

(1) Accessories are movable things that, without being parts of the main thing, are intended to serve the economic purpose of the main thing and are in a spatial relationship to it that corresponds to this intention. A thing is not an accessory if it is not regarded as an accessory in business dealings.

(2) The temporary use of a thing for the economic purpose of another thing does not give it the quality of an accessory. The temporary separation of an accessory from the main thing does not deprive it of the quality of an accessory.

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Section 98

Commercial and agricultural inventory

The following are intended to serve the economic purpose of the main thing:

1. in the case of a building that is permanently equipped for commercial operations, in particular a mill, a smithy, a brewery or a factory, the machinery and other equipment intended for the business,

2. in the case of a farm, the equipment and livestock intended for the commercial operations, the agricultural produce, to the extent that it is necessary to continue the farming until the time when it is expected that the same or similar produce will be obtained, and manure produced on the farm.

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Section 99

Fruits

(1) Fruits of a thing are the products of the thing and the other yield obtained from the thing in accordance with its intended use.

(2) Fruits of a right are the proceeds that the right produces in accordance with its intended use, in particular, in the case of a right to extract component parts of the soil, the parts extracted.

(3) Fruits are also the proceeds supplied by a thing or a right by virtue of a legal relationship.

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Section 100

Emoluments

Emoluments are the fruits of a thing or of a right and the benefits that the use of the thing or the right affords.

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Section 101

Division of fruits

If a person is entitled to receive the fruits of a thing or of a right until a particular time or from a particular time on, he is entitled to the following, unless otherwise provided:

1. the products and parts stated in section 99 (1), even if he is to receive them as the fruits of a right, to the extent that they are separated from the thing during the period of entitlement,

2. other fruits to the extent that they are due during the period of entitlement; however, if the fruits consist in remuneration for permission of use or of enjoyment of fruits and benefits, in interest, in profit shares or other periodically paid income, the person entitled has a right to a share corresponding to the duration of his entitlement.

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Section 102

Reimbursement of costs of production

A person who has a duty to hand over fruits may claim reimbursement of the costs of producing the fruits to the extent that they reflect proper business practices and do not exceed the value of the fruits.

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Section 103

Allocation of charges

A person who has a duty to bear the charges on a thing or a right until a specified time or from a specified time on must, unless otherwise provided, bear the periodically recurring charges in the proportion of the period of time of his duty, and bear other charges to the extent that they are payable during the period of time in which he has the duty.

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Division 3

Legal transactions

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Title 1

Capacity to contract

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Section 104

Incapacity to contract

A person is incapable of contracting if

1. he is not yet seven years old,

2. he is in a state of pathological mental disturbance, which prevents the free exercise of will, unless the state by its nature is a temporary one.

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Section 105

Voidness of declaration of intent

(1) The declaration of intent of a person incapable of contracting is void.

(2) Also void is a declaration of intent that is made in a state of unconsciousness or temporary mental disturbance.

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Section 105a

Everyday transactions

If a person of full age incapable of contracting enters into an everyday transaction that can be effected with funds of low value, the contract he enters into is regarded as effective with regard to performance and, if agreed, consideration, as soon as performance has been effected and consideration rendered. Sentence 1 above does not apply in the case of considerable danger to the person or the property of the person incapable of contracting.

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Section 106

Limited capacity for minors to contract

A minor who has reached the age of seven has limited capacity to contract under sections 107 to 113.

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Section 107

Consent of legal representative

For a declaration of intent as a result of which he does not receive only a legal benefit, a minor requires the consent of his legal representative.

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Section 108

Entry into a contract without consent

(1) If the minor enters into a contract without the necessary consent of the legal representative, the effectiveness of the contract is subject to the ratification of the legal representative.

(2) If the other party requests the representative to declare his ratification, the declaration can only be made to the other party; a declaration or refusal of ratification made to the minor before the request of the other party is ineffective. The ratification may only be declared before the expiry of two weeks after receipt of the demand; if ratification is not declared, it is considered to have been refused.

(3) If the minor has become fully capable of contracting, the ratification of the minor takes the place of the ratification of the representative.

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Section 109

Right of revocation of the other party

(1) Until the contract is ratified, the other party is entitled to revoke it. Declaration of revocation may also be made to the minor.

(2) If the other party realised that he was dealing with a minor, he may revoke the contract only if the minor untruthfully stated that the legal representative had given consent; he may not revoke in this case either if, when the contract was entered into, he had notice of the lack of consent.

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Section 110

Payment by minor with own means

A contract entered into by the minor without the approval of the legal representative is deemed effective from the beginning if the minor effects performance under the contract with means that were given to him for this purpose or for free disposal by the legal representative or by a third party with the ratification of the representative.

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Section 111

Unilateral legal transactions

A unilateral legal transaction that a minor undertakes without the necessary consent of the legal representative is ineffective. If the minor undertakes such a legal transaction with regard to another person with this consent, the legal transaction is ineffective if the minor does not present the consent in writing and the other person rejects the legal transaction for this reason without undue delay. Rejection is not possible if the representative had given the other person notice of the consent.

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Section 112

Independent operation of a trade or business

(1) If the legal representative, with the ratification of the family court, authorises the minor to operate a trade or business independently, the minor has unlimited capacity to contract for such transactions as the business operations entail. Legal transactions are excluded for which the representative needs the ratification of the family court.

(2) The authorisation may be revoked by the legal representative only with the ratification of the family court.

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Section 113

Service or employment relationship

(1) If the legal representative authorises the minor to enter service or employment, the minor has unlimited capacity to enter into transactions that relate to entering or leaving service or employment of the permitted nature or performing the duties arising from such a relationship. Contracts are excluded for which the legal representative needs the ratification of the family court.

(2) The authorisation may be revoked or restricted by the legal representative.

(3) If the legal representative is a guardian, the authorisation, if he refuses it, may, on the application of the minor, be replaced by the family court. The family court must give substitute authorisation if it is in the interest of the ward.

(4) The authorisation given for an individual case is in the case of doubt deemed to be general authorisation to enter into relationships of the same kind.

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Sections 114, 115

(repealed)

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Title 2

Declaration of intent

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Section 116

Mental reservation

A declaration of intent is not void by virtue of the fact that the person declaring has made a mental reservation that he does not want the declaration made. The declaration is void if it is to be made to another person who knows of the reservation.

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Section 117

Sham transaction

(1) If a declaration of intent that is to be made to another person is, with his consent, only made for the sake of appearance, it is void.

(2) If a sham transaction hides another legal transaction, the provisions applicable to the hidden transaction apply.

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Section 118

Lack of seriousness

A declaration of intent not seriously intended which is made in the expectation that its lack of serious intention will not be misunderstood is void.

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Section 119

Voidability for mistake

(1) A person who, when making a declaration of intent, was mistaken about its contents or had no intention whatsoever of making a declaration with this content, may avoid the declaration if it is to be assumed that he would not have made the declaration with knowledge of the factual position and with a sensible understanding of the case.

(2) A mistake about such characteristics of a person or a thing as are customarily regarded as essential is also regarded as a mistake about the content of the declaration.

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Section 120

Voidability for incorrect transmission

A declaration of intent that has been incorrectly transmitted by the person or facilities used for its transmission may be avoided subject to the same condition as a declaration of intent made by mistake may be avoided under section 119.

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Section 121

Period for avoidance

(1) Avoidance must be effected, in the cases set out in sections 119 and 120, without culpable delay (without undue delay) after the person entitled to avoid obtains knowledge of the ground for avoidance. Avoidance made to an absent person is regarded as effected in good time if the declaration of avoidance is forwarded without undue delay.

(2) Avoidance is excluded if ten years have passed since the declaration of intent was made.

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Section 122

Liability in damages of the person declaring avoidance

(1) If a declaration of intent is void under section 118, or avoided under sections 119 and 120, the person declaring must, if the declaration was to be made to another person, pay damages to this person, or failing this to any third party, for the damage that the other or the third party suffers as a result of his relying on the validity of the declaration; but not in excess of the total amount of the interest which the other or the third party has in the validity of the declaration.

(2) A duty to pay damages does not arise if the injured person knew the reason for the voidness or the voidability or did not know it as a result of his negligence (ought to have known it).

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Section 123

Voidability on the grounds of deceit or duress

(1) A person who has been induced to make a declaration of intent by deceit or unlawfully by duress may avoid his declaration.

(2) If a third party committed this deceit, a declaration that had to be made to another may be avoided only if the latter knew of the deceit or ought to have known it. If a person other than the person to whom the declaration was to be made acquired a right as a direct result of the declaration, the declaration made to him may be avoided if he knew or ought to have known of the deceit.

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Section 124

Period for avoidance

(1) The avoidance of a declaration of intent voidable under section 123 may be effected only within one year.

(2) In the case of deceit, the period commences at the time when the person entitled to avoid discovers the deceit, and in case of duress, from the time when the duress stops. The provisions in sections 206, 210 and 211 applicable to limitation apply with the necessary modifications to the running of the period.

(3) Avoidance is barred, if ten years have passed since the declaration of intent was made.

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Section 125

Voidness resulting from a defect of form

A legal transaction that lacks the form prescribed by statute is void. In case of doubt, lack of the form specified by legal transaction also results in voidness.

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Section 126

Written form

(1) If written form is prescribed by statute, the document must be signed by the issuer with his name in his own hand, or by his notarially certified initials.

(2) In the case of a contract, the signature of the parties must be made on the same document. If more than one counterpart of the contract is drawn up, it suffices if each party signs the document intended for the other party.

(3) Written form may be replaced by electronic form, unless the statute leads to a different conclusion.

(4) Notarial recording replaces the written form.

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Section 126a

Electronic form

(1) If electronic form is to replace the written form prescribed by statute, the issuer of the declaration must add his name to it and provide the electronic document with a qualified electronic signature in accordance with the Electronic Signature Act [Signaturgesetz].

(2) In the case of a contract, the parties must each provide a counterpart with an electronic signature as described in subsection (1).

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Section 126b

Text form

If text form is prescribed by statute, a readable declaration, in which the person making the declaration is named, must be made on a durable medium. A durable medium is any medium that

1. enables the recipient to retain or store a declaration included on the medium that is addressed to him personally such that it is accessible to him for a period of time adequate to its purpose, and

2. that allows the unchanged reproduction of such declaration.

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Section 127

Agreed form

(1) The provisions under sections 126, 126a or 126b also apply, in case of doubt, to the form specified by legal transaction.

(2) For compliance with the written form required by legal transaction, unless a different intention is to be assumed, it suffices if the message is transmitted by way of telecommunications and, in the case of a contract, by the exchange of letters. If such a form is chosen, notarial recording in accordance with section 126 may be demanded subsequently.

(3) For compliance with the electronic form required by legal transaction, unless a different intention is to be assumed, an electronic signature other than provided for in section 126a also suffices and, in the case of a contract, the exchange of a declaration of an offer and of acceptance which are each provided with an electronic signature. If such a form is chosen, an electronic signature in accordance with section 126a may be demanded subsequently, or if this is not possible for one of the parties, notarial recording in compliance with section 126.

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Section 127a

Court settlement

In the event of a court settlement, the recording of declarations in a court record drawn up in accordance with the provisions under the Code of Civil Procedure [Zivilprozessordnung] replaces notarial recording.

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Section 128

Notarial recording

If the notarial recording of a contract is prescribed by statute, it suffices if first the offer and then the acceptance of the offer is recorded by a notary.

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Section 129

Official certification

(1) If the official certification of a declaration is prescribed by law, the declaration must be put in writing and the signature of the person declaring be certified by a notary. If the declaration is signed by the issuer making his mark, the certification of the initials provided for in section 126 (1) is necessary and sufficient.

(2) The notarial recording of the declaration replaces the official certification.

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Section 130

Effectiveness of a declaration of intent to absent parties

(1) A declaration of intent that is to be made to another becomes effective, if made in his absence, at the point of time when this declaration reaches him. It does not become effective if a revocation reaches the other previously or at the same time.

(2) The effectiveness of a declaration of intent is not affected if the person declaring dies or loses capacity to contract after making a declaration.

(3) These provisions apply even if the declaration of intent is to be made to a public authority.

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Section 131

Effectiveness in relation to persons without full capacity to contract

(1) If a declaration of intent is made to a person incapable of contracting, it does not become effective until it has reached his legal representative.

(2) The same applies if the declaration of intent is made to a person with limited capacity to contract. If, however, the declaration merely provides a legal advantage to the person with limited capacity to contract, or if the legal representative has given his consent, the declaration becomes effective at the time when it reaches the person with limited capacity.

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Section 132

Substitution of service for receipt

(1) A declaration of intent is also deemed to have been received if it is served through a bailiff as intermediary. The service is effected in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure [Zivilprozessordnung].

(2) If the person declaring is unaware, through no negligence on his part, of the identity of the person to whom the declaration is to be made, or if the whereabouts of this person are unknown, service may be effected in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure [Zivilprozessordnung] relating to service by publication. In the former case, the local court [Amtsgericht] competent for the approval is the one in whose district the person declaring has his residence, or in the absence of a residence within the country, his abode; in the latter case, the local court [Amtsgericht] competent for the approval is the one in the district of which the person to whom service is required to be effected had his last residence, or, in the absence of a residence within the country, his last abode.

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Section 133

Interpretation of a declaration of intent

When a declaration of intent is interpreted, it is necessary to ascertain the true intention rather than adhering to the literal meaning of the declaration.

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Section 134

Statutory prohibition

A legal transaction that violates a statutory prohibition is void, unless the statute leads to a different conclusion.

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Section 135

Statutory prohibition of disposal

(1) If the disposition of a thing violates a statutory prohibition against disposal intended solely for the protection of particular persons, the disposition is ineffective only in relation to these persons. A disposition by legal transaction is equivalent to a disposition which is effected by means of execution or attachment.

(2) The provisions in favour of those who derive rights from an unauthorised person apply with the necessary modifications.

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Section 136

Official prohibition of disposal

A prohibition of disposal which is issued by a court or by any other public authority within the limits of its competence is equivalent to a statutory prohibition of disposal of the kind described in section 135.

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Section 137

Prohibition of dispositions in a legal transaction

The power to dispose of an alienable right may not be excluded or restricted by a legal transaction. This effectiveness of an obligation not to dispose of such a right is not affected by this provision.

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Section 138

Legal transaction contrary to public policy; usury

(1) A legal transaction which is contrary to public policy is void.

(2) In particular, a legal transaction is void by which a person, by exploiting the predicament, inexperience, lack of sound judgement or considerable weakness of will of another, causes himself or a third party, in exchange for an act of performance, to be promised or granted pecuniary advantages which are clearly disproportionate to the performance.

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Section 139

Partial invalidity

If a part of a legal transaction is void, then the entire legal transaction is void, unless it is to be assumed that it would have been undertaken even without the void part.

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Section 140

Re-interpretation

If a void legal transaction fulfils the requirements of another legal transaction, then the latter is deemed to have been entered into, if it may be assumed that its validity would be intended if there were knowledge of the invalidity.

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Section 141

Confirmation of a void legal transaction

(1) If a void legal transaction is confirmed by the person who undertook it, the confirmation is to be seen as a renewed undertaking.

(2) If a void contract is confirmed by the parties, then in case of doubt they are obliged to grant to each other what they would have granted if the contract had been valid from the beginning.

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Section 142

Effect of avoidance

(1) If a voidable legal transaction is avoided, it is to be regarded as having been void from the outset.

(2) A person who knew or ought to have known of the possibility of avoidance is treated, in case of avoidance, as if he had known or ought to have known of the invalidity of the legal transaction.

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Section 143

Declaration of avoidance

(1) Avoidance is effected by declaration to the opponent.

(2) The opponent is, in the case of a contract, the other party to the contract and, in the case of section 123 (2) sentence 2, the person who has acquired a right directly under the contract.

(3) In the case of a unilateral legal transaction which was to be undertaken in relation to another person, the other person is the opponent. The same applies to a legal transaction that is required to be undertaken in relation to another person or to a public authority, even if the legal transaction has already been undertaken in relation to the authority.

(4) In the case of any other kind of unilateral legal transaction, the person who has received a legal advantage directly on the basis of the legal transaction is the opponent. The avoidance may, however, if the declaration of intent was to be made to a public authority, be made by declaration to the authority; the authority should inform the person who was directly affected by the legal transaction of the avoidance.

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Section 144

Confirmation of a voidable legal transaction

(1) Avoidance is excluded, if the voidable legal transaction is confirmed by the person entitled to avoid.

(2) The confirmation does not require the form prescribed for the legal transaction.

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Title 3

Contract

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Section 145

Binding effect of an offer

Any person who offers to another to enter into a contract is bound by the offer, unless he has excluded being bound by it.

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Section 146

Expiry of an offer

An offer expires if a refusal is made to the offeror, or if no acceptance is made to this person in good time in accordance with sections 147 to 149.

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Section 147

Period for acceptance

(1) An offer made to a person who is present may only be accepted immediately. This also applies to an offer made by one person to another using a telephone or another technical facility.

(2) An offer made to a person who is absent may be accepted only until the time when the offeror may expect to receive the answer under ordinary circumstances.

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Section 148

Fixing a period for acceptance

If the offeror has determined a period of time for the acceptance of an offer, the acceptance may only take place within this period.

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Section 149

Late receipt of a declaration of acceptance

If a declaration of acceptance received late by the offeror was sent in such a way that it would have reached him in time if it had been forwarded in the usual way, and if the offeror ought to have recognised this, he must notify the acceptor of the delay after receipt of the declaration without undue delay, unless this has already been done. If he delays the sending of the notification, the acceptance is deemed not to be late.

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Section 150

Late and altered acceptance

(1) The late acceptance of an offer is considered to be a new offer.

(2) An acceptance with expansions, restrictions or other alterations is deemed to be a rejection combined with a new offer.

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Section 151

Acceptance without declaration to the offeror

A contract comes into existence through the acceptance of the offer without the offeror needing to be notified of acceptance, if such a declaration is not to be expected according to customary practice, or if the offeror has waived it. The point of time when the offer expires is determined in accordance with the intention of the offeror, which is to be inferred from the offer or the circumstances.

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Section 152

Acceptance by notarial recording

If a contract is notarially recorded without both parties being present at the same time, the contract comes into existence, unless otherwise provided, on the recording of acceptance effected in accordance with section 128. The provision of section 151 sentence 2 applies.

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Section 153

Death or incapacity to contract of the offeror

The coming into existence of the contract is not prevented by the offeror dying or losing capacity to contract before acceptance, unless a different intention of the offeror is to be presumed.

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Section 154

Overt lack of agreement; lack of notarial recording

(1) As long as the parties have not yet agreed on all points of a contract on which an agreement was required to be reached according to the declaration even of only one party, the contract is, in case of doubt, not entered into. An agreement on individual points is not legally binding even if they have been recorded.

(2) If notarial recording of the contract contemplated has been arranged, the contract is, in case of doubt, not entered into until the recording has taken place.

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Section 155

Hidden lack of agreement

If the parties to a contract which they consider to have been entered into have, in fact, not agreed on a point on which an agreement was required to be reached, whatever is agreed is applicable if it is to be assumed that the contract would have been entered into even without a provision concerning this point.

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Section 156

Entry into contracts at auctions

At an auction, a contract is not entered into until the fall of the hammer. A bid lapses if a higher bid is made, or if the auction is closed without the fall of the hammer.

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Section 157

Interpretation of contracts

Contracts are to be interpreted as required by good faith, taking customary practice into consideration.

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Title 4

Conditions and specification of time

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Section 158

Conditions precedent and subsequent

(1) If a legal transaction is entered into subject to a condition precedent, the legal transaction that is subject to the condition comes into effect when the condition is satisfied.

(2) If a legal transaction is entered into subject to a condition subsequent, the effect of the legal transaction ends when the condition is satisfied; at this moment the previous legal situation is restored.

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Section 159

Retroactive effect

If, under the terms of a legal transaction, the consequences linked to the satisfaction of the condition are to become effective from an earlier time, then when the condition is satisfied the parties are under a duty to render each other the performance that they would have rendered if the consequences had occurred at the earlier time.

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Section 160

Liability in the period of suspense

(1) Any person who has a right subject to a condition precedent may, in the case of the satisfaction of the condition, demand damages from the other party if the latter, during the period of suspense, is at fault for defeating or adversely affecting the right dependent on the condition.

(2) In the case of a legal transaction entered into subject to a condition subsequent, the person to whose advantage the former legal situation is restored has the same claim on the same conditions.

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Section 161

Ineffectiveness of dispositions in the period of suspense

(1) If a person has disposed of a thing, and the disposition is subject to a condition precedent, any further disposition which he makes as regards the thing in the period of suspense is ineffective on the satisfaction of the condition to the extent that it would defeat or adversely affect the effect subject to the condition. Such a disposition is equivalent to a disposition which is effected during the period of suspense by execution or attachment or by the administrator in insolvency proceedings.

(2) In the case of a condition subsequent, the same applies to the dispositions of a person whose right expires on the fulfilment of the condition.

(3) The provisions in favour of those who derive rights from an unauthorised person apply with the necessary modifications.

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Section 162

Prevention of or bringing about the satisfaction of the condition

(1) If the satisfaction of a condition is prevented in bad faith by the party to whose disadvantage it would be, the condition is deemed to have been satisfied.

(2) If the satisfaction of a condition is brought about in bad faith by the party to whose advantage it would be, the condition is deemed not to have been satisfied.

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Section 163

Specification of time

If, when a legal transaction is undertaken, a time has been specified for the beginning or the end of its effect, then in the former case the provisions in sections 158, 160 and 161 applicable to conditions precedent and in the latter case the conditions in sections 158, 160 and 161 applicable to conditions subsequent apply with the necessary modifications.

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Title 5

Agency and authority

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Section 164

Effect of a declaration made by the agent

(1) A declaration of intent which a person makes within the scope of his own power of agency in the name of a principal takes effect directly in favour of and against the principal. It is irrelevant whether the declaration is made explicitly in the name of the principal, or whether it may be gathered from the circumstances that it is to be made in his name.

(2) If the intent to act on behalf of another is not evident, the lack of intent on the part of the agent to act on his own behalf is not taken into consideration.

(3) The provisions of subsection (1) apply with the necessary modifications if a declaration of intent to be made to another is made to his agent.

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Section 165

Agent with limited capacity to contract

The effectiveness of a declaration of intent made by or to an agent is not adversely affected by the agent having limited capacity to contract.

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Section 166

Absence of intent; imputed knowledge

(1) Insofar as the legal consequences of a declaration of intent are influenced by an absence of intent or by knowledge or by constructive notice of certain circumstances, it is not the person of the principal, but that of the agent, that is taken into account.

(2) If, in the case of a power of agency granted by a legal transaction (authority), the agent has acted in compliance with certain instructions given by the principal, then the latter may not invoke the lack of knowledge of the agent with regard to circumstances of which the principal himself knew. The same rule applies to circumstances which the principal ought to have known, insofar as constructive notice is equivalent to knowledge.

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Section 167

Conferment of authority

(1) Authority is conferred by declaration to the person to be granted authority, or to the third party in relation to whom the authority is to have effect.

(2) The declaration is not required to be in the form laid down for the legal transaction to which the authority relates.

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Section 168

Expiry of authority

The expiry of the authority depends on the legal relationship on which its conferment is based. The authority is also revocable if the legal relationship is continued, unless this relationship leads to a different conclusion. The provision under section 167 (1) applies with the necessary modifications to the declaration of revocation.

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Section 169

Authority of the authorised representative and the managing partner

To the extent that the expired authority of an authorised representative or a managing partner is deemed to continue in accordance with sections 674 and 729, it is not effective in favour of a third party who, when a legal transaction is undertaken, knows or ought to know of the expiry.

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Section 170

Period of effectiveness of the authority

If authority is granted by declaration to a third party, it remains in force in relation to this third party until he is notified by the principal of the expiry thereof.

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Section 171

Period of effectiveness in the case of announcement

(1) If a person has announced by separate notice to a third party or by public notice that he has granted authority to another, the latter, on the basis of the announcement, is authorised to represent the person to that third party in the former case, and to any third party in the latter case.

(2) The authority remains effective until the notice is revoked in the same manner in which it was made.

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Section 172

Letter of authorisation

(1) If the principal has delivered a letter of authorisation to the agent and the agent presents it to a third party, this is equivalent to a separate notification of authorisation by the principal.

(2) The power of agency remains effective until the letter of authorisation is returned to the principal or declared to be invalid.

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Section 173

Period of effectiveness in the case of knowledge and negligent lack of knowledge

The provisions of section 170, section 171 (2) and section 172 (2) do not apply if the third party knows or ought to know of the termination of the authority when the legal transaction is entered into.

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Section 174

Unilateral legal transaction by an authorised representative

A unilateral legal transaction that an authorised representative undertakes in relation to another is ineffective if the authorised representative does not present a letter of authorisation and the other rejects the legal transaction without undue delay for this reason. Rejection is excluded if the principal notified the other of the authorisation.

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Section 175

Return of the letter of authorisation

After the expiry of the authority, the authorised representative must return the letter of authorisation to the principal; he has no right of retention.

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Section 176

Declaration of invalidity of the letter of authorisation

(1) The principal may, by public notice, declare the letter of authorisation; the declaration of invalidity must be published in compliance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure [Zivilprozessordnung] that govern the service of a summons by publication. The declaration of invalidity becomes effective at the end of one month after its last appearance in the official newspapers.

(2) The local court [Amtsgericht] in whose district the principal is subject to general jurisdiction and the local court [Amtsgericht] which would have jurisdiction over the action for the return of the letter of authorisation are equally competent to authorise the publication, irrespective of the value of the matter in dispute.

(3) The declaration of invalidity is ineffective if the principal may not revoke the authority.

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Section 177

Entry into contract by an unauthorised agent

(1) If a person enters into a contract in the name of another without power of agency, then the effectiveness of the contract to the benefit or detriment of the principal requires the ratification of the principal.

(2) If the other party requires the principal to make a declaration as to whether or not he ratifies the contract, the declaration may only be made to that other party; a ratification or a refusal of ratification declared to the agent before the demand is without effect. The ratification may only be declared before the expiry of two weeks after receipt of the demand; if it is not declared, it is considered to have been refused.

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Section 178

Right of revocation of the other party

Until the ratification of the contract, the other party is entitled to revoke it, unless he knew of the lack of power of agency when he entered into the contract. The revocation may also be declared to the agent.

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Section 179

Liability of an unauthorised agent

(1) A person who has entered into a contract as an agent is, if he does not furnish proof of his power of agency, obliged to the other party at the other party’s choice either to perform the contract or to pay damages to him, if the principal refuses to ratify the contract.

(2) If the agent was not aware of his lack of power of agency, he is obliged to make compensation only for the damage which the other party suffers as a result of relying on the power of agency; but not in excess of the total amount of the interest which the other or the third party has in the effectiveness of the contract.

(3) The agent is not liable, if the other party knew or ought to have known of the lack of power of agency. The agent is also not liable if he had limited capacity to contract, unless he acted with the consent of his legal representative.

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Section 180

Unilateral legal transactions

Agency without authority is not permitted for a unilateral legal transaction. However, if the person in relation to whom such a legal transaction was to be undertaken did not, when the legal transaction was undertaken, question the power of agency the agent claimed to have, or if he was in agreement that the agent might act without authority, the provisions on contracts apply with the necessary modifications. The same applies if a unilateral legal transaction is undertaken in relation to an unauthorised agent with his consent.

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Section 181

Contracting with oneself

An agent may not, unless otherwise permitted, enter into a legal transaction in the name of the principal with himself in his own name or as an agent of a third party, unless the legal transaction consists solely in the performance of an obligation.

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Title 6

Consent and ratification

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Section 182

Approval

(1) If the effectiveness of a contract, or of a unilateral legal transaction to be undertaken in relation to another, depends on the approval of a third party, the grant and refusal of approval may be declared either to one party or to the other.

(2) The approval is not required to have the form provided for the legal transaction.

(3) If a unilateral legal transaction whose effectiveness depends on the approval of a third party is undertaken with the consent of the third party, then the provisions of section 111 sentences 2 and 3 apply with the necessary modifications.

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Section 183

Revocability of consent

Prior approval (consent) may be revoked until the legal transaction is undertaken, unless the legal relationship on which this consent is based leads to a different conclusion. Revocation may either be declared to one party or to the other.

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Section 184

Retroactive effect of ratification

(1) Subsequent approval (ratification) operates retroactively from the point of time when the legal transaction was undertaken, unless otherwise provided.

(2) The retroactive effect does not cancel the effectiveness of dispositions made by the ratifying person before the ratification of the subject matter of the legal transaction, or made by execution or attachment or by the administrator in insolvency proceedings.

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Section 185

Disposition by an unauthorised person

(1) A disposition of a thing made by a person without the authority to do so is effective if made with the consent of the person entitled.

(2) The disposition becomes effective if the person entitled ratifies it, or if the person disposing acquires the thing or if the person entitled has succeeded to the estate of the disposer and has unlimited liability for the obligations of the estate. In the last two cases, if more than one conflicting disposition has been made in respect of the thing, then only the first disposition is effective.

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Division 4

Periods of time and fixed dates

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Section 186

Scope of applicability

The interpretation provisions of sections 187 to 193 apply to the fixing of periods of time and dates contained in statutes, court orders and legal transactions.

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Section 187

Beginning of a period of time

(1) If a period commences on the occurrence of an event or at a point of time falling in the course of a day, then the day on which the event or point of time occurs is not included in the calculation of the period.

(2) If the beginning of a day is the determining point of time for the commencement of a period, then this day is included in the calculation of the period. The same applies to the date of birth when the age of a person is calculated.

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Section 188

End of a period of time

(1) A period of time specified by days ends on the expiry of the last day of the period.

(2) A period of time specified by weeks, by months or by a duration of time comprising more than one month - year, half-year, quarter - ends, in the case of section 187 (1), on the expiry of the day of the last week or of the last month which, in its designation or its number, corresponds to the day on which the event or the point of time occurs, or in the case of section 187 (2), on the expiry of the day of the last week or of the last month that precedes the day which corresponds in designation or number to the first day of the period of time.

(3) If, in the case of a period of time determined by months, the day on which it is due to expire does not occur in the last month, the period ends on the expiry of the last day of this month.

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Section 189

Calculation of individual periods of time

(1) A half-year is understood to mean a period of six months, a quarter is understood to mean a period of three months, and half a month is understood to mean a period of fifteen days.

(2) If a period of time is specified as one or more than one whole month and a half-month, then the fifteen days shall be counted last of all.

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Section 190

Extension of period

If a period of time is extended, the new period is calculated from the expiry of the previous period.

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Section 191

Calculation of periods of time

If a period of time is determined by months or by years with the meaning that they are not required to run consecutively, a month is counted as thirty days and a year as 365 days.

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Section 192

Beginning, middle and end of a month

The beginning of the month is understood to be the first day, the middle of the month the fifteenth day, and the end of month the last day.

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Section 193

Sundays and holidays; Saturdays

If a declaration of intent is to be made or an act of performance to be done on a particular day or within a period, and if the particular day or the last day of the period falls on a Sunday, a general holiday officially recognised at the place of the declaration or performance, or on a Saturday, the next working day takes the place of this day.

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Division 5

Limitation

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Title 1

Subject-matter and duration of limitation

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Section 194

Subject-matter of limitation

(1) The right to demand that another person does or refrains from an act (claim) is subject to limitation.

(2) Claims based on a family-law relationship are not subject to limitation to the extent that they are directed towards creating a situation appropriate for the relationship for the future or towards consent to a genetic test to clarify biological descent.

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Section 195

Standard limitation period

The standard limitation period is three years.

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Section 196

Limitation period for rights to a plot of land

Claims to the transfer of ownership of land and to the creation, transfer or cancellation of a right to a plot of land or to a change of the subject-matter of such a right and entitlements to consideration are subject to a ten-year limitation period.

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Section 197

Thirty-year limitation period

(1) Unless otherwise provided, the following are statute-barred after thirty years:

1. damage claims based on intentional injury to life, limb, health, liberty or sexual self-determination,

2. claims for return based on ownership, other real rights, sections 2018, 2130 and 2362, as well as claims serving to assert the claims for return

3. claims that have been declared final and absolute,

4. claims under enforceable settlements or enforceable documents,

5. claims that have become enforceable upon being recognised in insolvency proceedings, and

6. claims to reimbursement of the costs of execution.

(2) To the extent that claims under subsection (1), nos. 3 to 5 are concerned with periodically recurring acts of performance that will fall due in the future, the standard limitation period takes the place of the period of thirty years.

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Section 198

Limitation in the case of a successor in title

If a thing in respect of which a real claim exists comes into the possession of a third party by succession in title, the part of the limitation period that passed while possession was held by his predecessor in title is deemed to benefit the successor in title.

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Section 199

Commencement of the standard limitation period and maximum limitation periods

(1) Unless another commencement of limitation of is determined, the standard limitation period commences at the end of the year in which:

1. the claim arose and

2. the obligee obtains knowledge of the circumstances giving rise to the claim and of the identity of the obligor, or would have obtained such knowledge if he had not shown gross negligence.

(2) Claims for damages based on injury to life, body, health or liberty, notwithstanding the manner in which they arose and notwithstanding knowledge or a grossly negligent lack of knowledge, are statute-barred thirty years from the date on which the act, breach of duty or other event that caused the damage occurred.

(3) Other claims for damages become statute-barred

1. notwithstanding knowledge or a grossly negligent lack of knowledge, ten years after they arise and

2. regardless of how they arose and of knowledge or a grossly negligent lack of knowledge, thirty years from the date on which the act, breach of duty or other event that caused the damage occurred.

The period that ends first is applicable.

(3a) Claims based on the devolution of an inheritance or whose claiming is contingent on knowledge of a disposition mortis causa become statute-barred in 30 years from when the claim comes into being regardless of knowledge or of grossly negligent ignorance.

(4) Notwithstanding knowledge or a grossly negligent lack of knowledge, claims other than those under subsections (2) to (3a) become statute-barred ten years after the date upon which they arise.

(5) If the claim is for forbearance, the date of the breach of such an obligation takes the place of the date on which the claim arose.

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Section 200

Commencement of other limitation periods

Unless another date for the commencement of limitation is specified, the limitation period of claims not subject to the standard limitation period commences when the claim arises. Section 199 (5) applies with the necessary modifications.

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Section 201

Commencement of the limitation period for recognised claims

The limitation period for claims of the kind referred to in section 197 (1), nos. 3 to 6, commences on the date when the decision becomes final and absolute, the enforceable instrument is executed or the claim is recognised in insolvency proceedings, but not before the claim arises. Section 199 (5) applies with the necessary modifications.

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Section 202

Inadmissibility of agreements on limitation

(1) In the case of liability for intention, the limitation period may not be relaxed in advance by legal transaction.

(2) The limitation period may not be extended by legal transaction beyond a period of thirty years from the beginning of the statutory limitation period.

Title 2

Suspension, suspension of expiry and recommencement of the limitation period

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Section 203

Suspension of limitation in the case of negotiations

If negotiations between the obligor and the obligee are in progress in respect of the claim or the circumstances giving rise to the claim, the limitation period is suspended until one party or the other refuses to continue the negotiations. The claim is statute-barred at the earliest three months after the end of the suspension.

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Section 204

Suspension of limitation as a result of prosecution of rights

(1) The limitation period is suspended by:

1. the bringing of an action for performance or for a declaration of the existence of a claim, for the grant of an execution clause or for the issue of an order for execution,

2. the service of an application in the simplified procedure for the maintenance of minors,

3. the service of a demand for payment in summary proceedings for recovery of debt or of the European order for payment in the European order for payment procedure in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 creating a European order for payment procedure (OJ EU L 399 p. 1),

4. arranging for notice to be given of an application for conciliation filed with a conciliation body established or recognised by the Land justice administration authority or, if the parties seek conciliation in mutual agreement, with any other conciliation body which settles disputes; if notice is arranged to be given shortly after the filing of the application, the limitation period is suspended immediately once the application is filed,

5. the assertion of a set-off of a claim in a legal action,

6. the service of a third-party notice,

6a. the service of the registration for a test case for claims designated therein, where they are based on the same circumstances as the determinations applied for in the test case, and if the action for performance or for a declaration of the existence of the claims designated in the registration is lodged within three months of the final termination of the test case,

7. the service of an application for evidence to be taken in independent proceedings,

8. the beginning of agreed expert opinion proceedings,

9. the service of an application for an attachment order, an interim injunction or an interim order, or, if the application is not served, the filing of the application if the order for attachment, the interim injunction or the interim order is served on the obligor within one month of its being pronounced or of its service on the obligee,

10. the filing of a claim in insolvency proceedings or in proceedings for the distribution of assets under maritime law,

11. the beginning of arbitration proceedings,

12. the filing of an application with a public authority, if the admissibility of the action depends on a has been disposed of; this applies with the necessary modifications to applications required to be preliminary decision by this authority and the action is brought within three months after the application made to a court or a conciliation body referred to in no. 4 above, whose admissibility is subject to a preliminary decision by an authority,

13. the filing of an application with the higher court, if the higher court must decide upon the court with jurisdiction over the claim and the action is brought within three months after the application has been disposed of, or the application for which a decision on jurisdiction is necessar