Family foundations are entering the digital age. What do the new register rules mean for entrepreneurs and creditors?

The register of family foundations is no longer paper-based„

Is the register of family foundations public? Yes. Can you easily check a family foundation online? Until now, this has been much more difficult than with companies entered in the National Court Register. However, this is set to change with the amendment to the regulations governing the register of family foundations.

The new regulations introduce the ability to obtain copies, extracts, certificates, and register information electronically. This is another step towards the digitization of family foundations and increased data accessibility for entrepreneurs, professional representatives, and business participants.

What is the register of family foundations?

The Register of Family Foundations is maintained by the District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski. This is where applications for registration of a family foundation and any changes to its operation are submitted.

The register contains the most important information about the family foundation, including its name, registered office, identification number and data required by the Family Foundation Act.

Since the entry into force of the Family Foundation Act, the number of registered entities has been systematically growing, which increases the importance of easy access to registration data.

How has the register of family foundations worked so far?

Although the register of family foundations was formally public, its functioning differed significantly from the solutions known from the National Court Register.

Obtaining information or documents typically required filing a motion with the court. In practice, this meant extended waiting times and additional formalities.

This model has been repeatedly criticized by entrepreneurs, succession advisors and lawyers serving family foundations.

What changes does the amendment introduce?

The most important change is the possibility of issuing documents from the register of family foundations also in electronic form.

Once the new solutions come into force, interested parties will be able to obtain:

• extracts from the register of family foundations,
• extracts from the register,
• certificates,
• information about family foundations,

in electronic form.

The changes also include solutions enabling wider sharing of registry data using digital tools.

Will the register of family foundations be available online?

The amendment does not yet mean the creation of a full-fledged equivalent of the KRS online search engine.

However, it represents a significant step towards digitizing the register of family foundations. Electronic access to documents and information is intended to simplify the register's use and increase the transparency of family foundations' operations.

What do the changes mean for entrepreneurs?

For founders and family entrepreneurs, the new solutions mean, above all, faster access to documents needed to run a business.

Benefits may include:

• more efficient handling of succession processes,
• easier cooperation with banks,
• faster preparation of transaction documentation,
• simplification of administrative procedures.

In practice, the digitization of the register of family foundations is part of a broader trend of digitalization of public services and reducing formalities related to running a business.

Why is register digitization important?

Family foundations are increasingly being used to plan business succession and protect family assets.

As their popularity grows, the importance of a transparent and efficiently functioning registration system grows. Easier access to data increases the security of business transactions and allows for faster verification of information about entities operating as family foundations.

From July 29, 2026, easier access to data from the Register of Family Foundations

The most noticeable changes for entrepreneurs and representatives will come into effect on 29 July 2026. The new regulations clarify the rules for electronic access to documents and information collected in the Register of Family Foundations (RFR).

Those interested in obtaining an electronic copy, extract, certificate, or information from the register can submit an application via email. The application should be sent to the registry court's email address, available on its website.

For a document to be issued electronically, the application must be accompanied by a qualified electronic signature or a trusted signature. Proof of payment of the filing fee will also be required.

Documents submitted by the court, such as copies or extracts from the register, will be authenticated with a qualified electronic signature of an authorized court employee or a qualified electronic seal. They will then be sent to the email address from which the request was received.

The amendment also provides for the ability to independently retrieve basic information about family foundations without the need to submit a formal application. Through the registry court's website, users will be able to check:

• RFR number,
• name of the family foundation,
• the foundation's headquarters,
• REGON number,
• Tax Identification Number (if disclosed in the register).

These data will be updated automatically at least once a day after the closing hours of the registry court.

This is the first solution that, in practice, brings the Register of Family Foundations closer to the standards known to entrepreneurs from electronic public registers, such as the National Court Register.

Questions and Answers Q&A

Is the register of family foundations public?

Yes. The register of family foundations is public, although access to data has so far been more limited than in the case of the National Court Register.

How to check a family foundation?

After the changes, access to information and documents from the register will be easier thanks to electronic solutions.

Is it possible to obtain an extract from the register of family foundations online?

Yes. The amendment provides for the possibility of obtaining copies, extracts, certificates, and information also in electronic form.

Who maintains the register of family foundations?

The register of family foundations is maintained by the District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski.

Do the changes affect the principles of operation of family foundations?

No. The amendment primarily concerns the method of making data and documents from the register of family foundations available.

Summary

The amendment to the regulations concerning the register of family foundations does not change the rules of operation of the foundations themselves, but significantly facilitates access to information and registration documents.

Electronic copies, extracts, and certificates represent another step towards the full digitization of the register of family foundations. For entrepreneurs, this means less paperwork and faster access to necessary data, and for the entire market – greater transparency and security of business transactions.