New Commercial Register 2026: what is actually changing and why you should care before it takes effect
From 17 August 2026, Act No. 29/2026 Coll. on the Commercial Register enters into force. If you have an s.r.o. (limited liability company), are planning a share transfer or a change of managing director, this directly affects you — and it is better to know in advance what awaits you than to find out under time pressure.
A twenty-three-year-old act and its debts
The Commercial Register in Slovakia operated under a law from 2003. Over the years, an ecosystem of intermediaries grew around it — companies that for a few dozen euros offered to set up an s.r.o., often without the client truly understanding what they were signing. The result? A register full of inaccurate data, formally defective documents, and occasionally companies where people appeared without even knowing about it, while the relationships between shareholders eventually began causing problems and paralysing the company's operations.
The new act responds to this in a fundamental way: if you want to register anything in the commercial register, someone must assume professional responsibility. Not an anonymous intermediary, but an attorney or notary — a person who is accountable for their advice, carries mandatory insurance and is subject to professional oversight.
What must now be an authorised document
After 17 August 2026, the following documents must take the form of an authorised document (by an attorney) or a notarial deed:
Authorisation is not merely formal. The attorney verifies the identity of the parties, assesses the document's compliance with the law and bears responsibility for it. A template downloaded from the internet and your own signature will no longer suffice after 17 August.
Who can file a registration application
Here comes another fundamental change. Until now, practically anyone with a power of attorney could file a submission to the register. Going forward, there are only three options:
Intermediaries without attorney or notary status will lose the ability to file registration applications on your behalf after 17 August.
When you need a notary — and when an attorney
A notarial deed will be required for general meeting resolutions in companies with multiple shareholders regarding:
Single-member s.r.o.: If you have a single-member s.r.o., you appoint a managing director by a sole shareholder decision, not a general meeting resolution — and this decision can be authorised by an attorney. In practice, this means a simpler and faster process.
From practice: An attorney not only authorises the document but also prepares its content, advises on structuring the rights and obligations of shareholders, files the registration application with the notary and communicates with them professionally and efficiently — including any supplements. You deal with one person, not two.
What else is changing?
Business name reservation
For €50, you will be able to reserve a business name for 60 days before actually founding the company. If you are building a brand and need time for preparation, no one will take the name in the meantime.
End of single-member s.r.o. restrictions
Until now, there was a limit of three single-member s.r.o. companies per natural person and a prohibition on their mutual chaining. Both restrictions are abolished. For entrepreneurs with multiple projects or a holding structure, this is a significant simplification.
Notaries will be able to register joint-stock companies
Until now, notaries as registrars primarily handled s.r.o. companies. Going forward, this option will extend to other legal forms including joint-stock companies. Technical solutions for notarial registrations will gradually adapt to these cases.
Central register of authorisations
The Slovak Bar Association will maintain a non-public register of all authorisations performed by attorneys.
What you can do now
If you know that a share transfer, change of managing director or amendment to articles of association lies ahead in the coming months, it is worth considering whether to carry it out under the current rules. It is simpler and typically less expensive.
If you are not planning any changes, you do not need to do anything. But it is good to know that when the time comes, things will be done differently — and without an attorney or notary, it will not work. Finding an attorney you trust is always easier when you do not urgently need one yet.
How we can help — today and after August
We already routinely handle for our clients:
After 17 August 2026, document authorisation will be added — a mandatory legal requirement for registration. The attorney authorises the documents, files the registration application and communicates with the notary on your behalf. You have a single partner who covers the entire process.
Not sure what awaits you? Get in touch
Our firm has long-standing experience in commercial register and corporate law matters. Document authorisation is one of our standard services — just as is advising on company formation, share transfers and preparation for changes. The first 15 minutes of consultation are without obligation.
Book a consultationAct No. 29/2026 Coll. on the Commercial Register. Effective from 17 August 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice for a specific situation.