Court certification archive and electronic signatures clarified (Außerstreitgesetz)
Austria's non-contentious court procedure law now clarifies that certified documents—whether paper or electronic—must be stored in the court certification archive (Beglaubigungsarchiv der Justiz) with the party's consent, for at least ten years. The law abbreviation "AußStrG" has also been formally added.
What changed
The law now specifies that certification notes (Beglaubigungsvermerk) are added either to paper documents or attached to electronic ones. For electronically signed documents, certification must use the court's electronic signature. Certified documents are stored in the court certification archive (Beglaubigungsarchiv der Justiz) for at least ten years unless the applicant directs otherwise, with the party's consent.
Who is affected
Anyone requesting court certification of signatures—on paper documents, handwritten marks, or electronic signatures—is affected. Courts handling non-contentious matters (inheritance, family, guardianship, and administrative proceedings outside dispute resolution) must follow the new storage and certification procedures.
What to look out for
If you request signature certification, be aware that your document will be kept in the court archive for at least ten years unless you specify otherwise. Electronically certified signatures now carry the same legal force as written documents under Austrian civil law, and electronic certification uses the court's own digital signature rather than a personal one.