As the Bundestag reports, the first reading of the draft law "to promote and modernize the lawyer-notary profession," announced by the federal government, will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026. After a 30-minute debate, the draft is planned to be referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection for further deliberation.
The draft law proposes several changes to facilitate access to the lawyer-notary profession and enhance its attractiveness. According to the draft, the previous three-year waiting period for the notarial specialist examination will be eliminated, allowing the exam to be taken immediately after the second state examination. Additionally, a second opportunity to retake the exam will be introduced to reduce exam pressure. The local waiting period will be shortened from three to two years. According to the federal government, periods of maternity leave, parental leave, and care leave will no longer be counted as interruptions to the local waiting period. Finally, mandatory continuing education hours will only need to be proven by the application deadline; they will no longer be tied to a specific calendar year.
Furthermore, the draft law implements the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court from September 23, 2025 (1 BvR 1796/23) regarding age limits in the lawyer-notary profession. The statutory age limit upon reaching the age of 70 will generally remain in place. However, in cases of existing applicant shortages, a two-time extension of the term of office for three years each will be possible upon application. The notarial office will definitively end no later than upon reaching the age of 76.
With these regulations, the federal government aims to ensure long-term notarial services, particularly in rural and structurally weak regions, "without affecting the planning security of younger applicants." The measures are designed to make the lawyer-notary profession more attractive and prevent shortages in service provision. The planned changes affect both admission requirements and professional practice and are intended to enable a modern and flexible design of the lawyer-notary profession.
The first reading in the Bundestag marks the beginning of the parliamentary process, in which the draft will now be examined in detail and possibly modified in the specialized committees. The federal government emphasizes that the reform is necessary to address the challenges of demographic change and regional inequality. The planned innovations are intended to help ensure that sufficient notaries are available in the future to provide legal advice and support to citizens.
The draft law thus reflects a comprehensive modernization strategy that affects both training and professional practice in the lawyer-notary profession. The introduction of flexible age limits aims to balance the need for experienced professionals with opportunities for new entrants, supporting a sustainable and adaptable notarial system.
