Schriftstück

Schriftstück is a German term that designates a written document. It covers any piece of writing that serves a communicative or evidentiary purpose, from a casual note to a formal contract. The word combines Schrift (writing) and Stück (piece) and is widely used in legal, administrative, and archival contexts as well as in everyday language.

In legal usage, Schriftstücke are documents produced in writing that may be used to prove facts, rights, or positions in court or administrative proceedings. They can include contracts, letters, notices, invoices, minutes, or other declarations submitted by a party. Their evidentiary value can depend on factors such as authenticity, originality, and proper timing. Not every Schriftstück is an Urkunde; an Urkunde is a specific kind of document with recognized formal requirements and evidentiary force, typically involving attribution and, when required, authentication.

Examples of Schriftstücke include signed agreements, written notices, official correspondence, or a memorandum presented for a hearing. In everyday use, the term can simply refer to any written piece, regardless of its legal status.

Beyond law, Schriftstück also appears in historical and archival contexts to denote written artifacts, such as manuscripts, official records, or correspondence. In these uses, the emphasis is on the written form as a historical source rather than on legal evidentiary weight.