Office of the Government Representation in Property Affairs

Úřad pro zastupování státu ve věcech majetkových (ÚZSVM)
Rašínovo nábřeží 390/42
128 00 Praha 2

The Office of Government Representation in property affairs (Office) was established on 1st of July 2002 by the decision of the Parliament based on the Government proposal. The main aim is to improve legal services and ensure efficient protection and economical administration of the property owned by the Czech Republic.

The status of the Office is that of a government constituent (the legal name for government institutions specified by law, who act on behalf of the State and whose budget is included in the national budget, like ministries, the Office of the Government, etc.) and also that of an accounting unit (authorized to administer the state property).

The seat of the Office is in Prague, but there are eight regional departments (regional department in the capital city of Prague, Central Bohemia, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové, České Budějovice, Brno, Ostrava), the structure being parallel to that of the judicial system of the country. Regional departments include teams both for legal services and property administration, while solicitors dealing with the service of proceedings and advisory lawyers are concentrated in Prague. The General Director of the Office is appointed by the Minister of Finance. The budget of the Office forms a part of the chapter of the same Ministry.

The agenda of the Office is based on the following legislative framework:

• Act No. 219/2000 Coll., Act on the Property of the Czech Republic and its performance in legal relations
• Act No. 201/2002 Coll., Act on the Office of the Government Representation in Property Affairs
• Act No. 320/2002 Coll., Act on the Modification and the Termination of Some Acts Related to the Termination of District Authorities (public administration reform)

The main tasks of the Office are as follows:

• to represent the Czech Republic, its government constituents and municipalities by acting for them at court hearings and similar proceedings
• to provide legal advice and prepare positions regarding property-related matters according to the demand of other government constituents, state organizations and municipalities
• any other special agenda set by law (e.g. taking over the property of customs-houses, property under the roads, property, of which the owner is unknown, checking contributions for individual housing construction, etc.)
• property administration - registering, protecting, and administering property with regard to the profit of the State, e.g. by advantageous sales or rents

The representation is performed in several ways:

• by obligatory acting for other government constituents at court hearings and similar proceedings regarding proprietary rights of the State, financial claims, business transactions, and complaints lodged with the Constitutional Court - acting at Czech courts, at court hearings abroad, and at international courts hearings
• by bringing suits and acting at court hearings regarding the ownership, validity of contracts on property transfers, groundless enrichment to the detriment of the State, etc. - acting on its own incentive or on the incentive of the Ministry of Finance or the Supreme Audit Office
• by acting for another government constituent in property-related cases on the basis of a contract
• by acting as a secondary participant at civil court hearings, where property of a State organization is involved and where legal interest of the State exists
• by acting as a participant at civil court hearings regarding the validity of contracts among non-state organizations on property transfers where justified property interest of the State exists
• by acting for municipalities at court heraings

The property administration (both real estate and movable property) deals with these categories:

• ownerless property which passes to the State from persons dying without a last will and testament and blood relatives, ownerless property passes by testament, by court decision, by international treaty, lost and found, etc.
• property remaining as a consequence of the reform of the public administration system - property originally administered by District Offices, including rights and commitments related to this property
• overtaking the property of customs-houses and customs authorities
• overtaking and administering the property from criminal activities
• the property where the owner is unknown

Address of the Office of the General Director:
ÚZSVM, sam. odd. Sekretariátu generálního ředitele
Rašínovo nábřeží 390/42, 128 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic
tel.: +420 225 776 349, 225 776 350, 225 776 351, 225 776 352
fax: +420 225 776 381
e-mail: sekretariat@uzsvm.cz
website: www.uzsvm.cz