When a Polish asset is contributed in kind to a company, the collateral question is not hypothetical. The receiving entity needs to know what it is actually acquiring: who owns the asset, what encumbers it, and whether the contributor's title is clean enough to transfer. Official Polish registers answer parts of that question. This page states which parts, from which sources, and where the chain stops.
- What the sources show
- Ownership of real property, registered pledges over movables, mortgage entries, pending enforcement proceedings, and insolvency status of the contributor. Sources: Księgi Wieczyste, Rejestr Zastawów, KRS, Krajowy Rejestr Zadłużonych · verified June 2026.
- Access condition
- Księgi Wieczyste is publicly searchable by land register number. KRS is publicly searchable by entity name or NIP. Both require no registration.
- What the sources do not show
- Undisclosed encumbrances, off-register pledges, intra-group security arrangements, and any lien not yet entered in a register. No register confirms absence of a claim not yet filed.
- Valuation
- Collateral value is not stated in any Polish register. Registers record legal title and encumbrances, not market value.
What an in-kind contribution requires from an ownership check
An asset contributed in kind (aport) must be accurately valued and its title must vest in the contributor without reservation. Polish company law requires the management board to confirm the asset's value. A lender or co-investor receiving the contributed asset as collateral security needs an independent chain-of-title check before accepting it.
The collateral angle matters here. An encumbered asset transferred as aport carries its encumbrances into the new ownership structure. A mortgage does not dissolve on contribution. A registered pledge follows the asset unless the pledgee consents to release. The receiving entity inherits the security position of the contributor.
Registers consulted and what each shows
| Register | What it shows | Access | What it does not show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Księgi Wieczyste (Land and Mortgage Register) | Owner of record, mortgage entries, easements, pending enforcement annotations | Public, searchable by KW number | Contractual restrictions not entered as annotations; off-register agreements |
| Rejestr Zastawów (Pledge Register) | Registered pledges over movables and rights; pledgee identity; pledge amount | Public, searchable by debtor name or PESEL/NIP | Pledges not registered; financial collateral arrangements under separate statute |
| KRS (National Court Register) | Corporate structure, management, share capital, filed financial statements | Public, searchable by name or NIP | Beneficial ownership beyond disclosed shareholders; side letters |
| Krajowy Rejestr Zadłużonych (National Insolvency Register) | Insolvency and restructuring proceedings; enforcement prohibition orders | Public, searchable by name or NIP | Filed applications not yet processed; foreign proceedings not notified |
| CRBR (Central Register of Beneficial Owners) | Disclosed beneficial owners of Polish companies | Public, searchable by NIP | Accuracy depends on self-reporting; nominee arrangements not detected |
The ownership chain for a contributed asset
Establishing the ownership chain means pulling each layer in sequence. For real property, the Księgi Wieczyste entry is the starting point. Section II shows the owner of record. Section IV shows mortgages. Section III shows encumbrances other than mortgages — easements, enforcement annotations, pending transfer restrictions.
For movables and rights contributed as aport, the Rejestr Zastawów is checked by the contributor's identity. A pledge registration in that register survives asset transfer unless the pledgee has consented in writing to its release.
The contributor's insolvency status is checked in the Krajowy Rejestr Zadłużonych. An aport made by a contributor already subject to insolvency proceedings may be challenged. The register shows active proceedings; it does not show filed applications pending decision.
Where the sources disagree
Register data can be internally inconsistent. The KRS may show a corporate contributor as the owner of shares in a subsidiary, while the Księgi Wieczyste shows a different entity as the property owner of record. The discrepancy is itself a finding. It requires explanation before any contribution proceeds.
CRBR data depends on self-reporting by obligated entities. The register may show a beneficial owner who no longer holds that position, or it may omit a beneficial owner who does. Cross-checking CRBR against KRS shareholding structure is standard procedure. Where they diverge, the divergence is noted in the report.
The limit of what the sources allow
Polish public registers show what has been entered. They do not show what has not been entered. A mortgage not yet registered does not appear in the Księgi Wieczyste. A pledge not submitted to the Rejestr Zastawów does not appear there. An insolvency application filed yesterday may not yet appear in the Krajowy Rejestr Zadłużonych.
The collateral value of a contributed asset cannot be read from any register. Registers record legal position, not market value. A valuation report by an independent expert is outside the scope of a register-based ownership report.
Beneficial ownership data in CRBR reflects what the obligated entity has declared. Where the declared structure does not match the KRS shareholding entries, the report states the discrepancy and its extent. The report does not resolve it. Resolution requires the contributor's cooperation or documentary disclosure beyond what registers contain.
What is included at each tier
| Tier | Price | Included | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal | €590 | Księgi Wieczyste check (owner of record, mortgages, Section III encumbrances); Rejestr Zastawów check by contributor identity; KRS extract for corporate contributor; Krajowy Rejestr Zadłużonych status check; written summary of findings with source references | CRBR beneficial ownership trace; cross-register discrepancy analysis; review of filed financial statements; enforcement history beyond active proceedings |
| Standard | €990 | All Signal scope; CRBR beneficial ownership check with cross-reference to KRS shareholding; analysis of filed KRS financial statements for the contributor; discrepancy table where registers diverge; summary of encumbrances by type and priority | Review of historical Księgi Wieczyste entries predating current ownership; check of foreign registers for non-Polish contributors; valuation of the contributed asset; legal qualification of findings |
| Extended | €2 200 | All Standard scope; historical Księgi Wieczyste section review; group structure trace through KRS for corporate contributor and its direct parent; enforcement history in Krajowy Rejestr Zadłużonych including closed proceedings; written report with source-referenced findings table and identified gaps; preparation of a questions list for contributor disclosure | Foreign register checks outside Poland; asset valuation; legal advice on transaction structure; representation in any proceeding |
Questions about ownership checks before aport
Does a mortgage on contributed real property transfer to the new owner?
A mortgage entered in the Księgi Wieczyste is attached to the property, not to the owner. Contribution of the property does not extinguish the mortgage. The Księgi Wieczyste check at Signal tier identifies all mortgage entries in Section IV.
What if the contributor is a foreign company?
If the contributor is a foreign entity, KRS may show a Polish branch or subsidiary rather than the full group structure. The Extended tier traces the corporate chain through KRS to the direct parent. Foreign register checks are outside the scope of all three tiers and are arranged separately.
Can the register check confirm that no pledge exists?
A negative result in the Rejestr Zastawów means no registered pledge was found for the searched identifier on the date of retrieval. It does not confirm that no unregistered security arrangement exists. The report states this distinction explicitly.
How long does the report take?
Signal and Standard tiers are delivered within five business days of confirmed instruction. Extended tier is delivered within ten business days. Timing depends on register availability and completeness of the identifier information provided.
What identifier is needed to run the check?
For real property: the Księgi Wieczyste number (KW number). For the contributor: NIP or PESEL, and full legal name. Where the KW number is not known, it can be located from property address data, but this adds time.
Disclaimer: This report is a factual compilation from official registers and public sources. It is provided for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and contains no legal qualification of the facts established. KORDECKI & Partners assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on this material. For advice regarding your particular situation, please contact info@kordeckipartners.com.