Apply for legal aid
Government subsidy to cover the costs of out-of-court legal consultation for low-income individuals.
Wo wohnen Sie?
Damit wir Apply for legal aid mit dem zuständigen Amtsgericht in Ihrer Stadt anzeigen können.
Oder Großstadt wählen:
Sie werden zur geführten Suche weitergeleitet – mit Kontaktdaten, Termin und nächsten Schritten für Apply for legal aid.
Quick answer
- 1
Documents you need
Statement of Personal and Financial Circumstances · Proof of income
- 2
Responsible authority
The authority of your main residence
- 3
How to do it
In person or by post at the office
- 4
Costs
15 € an, die der Anwalt vor Ort einfordern kann
How to proceed
- 1
Apply for a certificate of entitlement at the local court
Accompanied by a statement regarding personal and financial circumstances.
- 2
Consult a lawyer who is licensed to practice
A copayment of €15 may apply.
- 3
Get advice
The lawyer bills the state for the consultation.
Responsible authority
The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →
The essentials before applying
Who is eligible?
Individuals whose income and assets do not exceed the limits for legal aid and who cannot afford a lawyer.
Income limit
Individuals: disposable income of less than approximately €50 per month; assets exceeding the exemption thresholds are taken into account.
Processing time
Nationwide: approx. approx. 1 weeks
Success rate
approx. 85.0 % (estimate)
Most common mistakes
- •Declaration of personal and financial circumstances is missing
- •Lawyer retained prior to the issuance of the authorization certificate
Common reasons for rejection
- •Income/assets exceeding the exemption limits
- •Willfulness (the same matter would not have been pursued without assistance)
Alternatives
- Check related services in the application assistant
- Use social counselling before applying
If rejected
File a written objection within 30 days – with reasons why the decision is wrong and any missing evidence.
Related services
Questions & Answers
How much does legal aid cost?▼
As a rule, there is a €15 copayment, which the local attorney may collect.
Freshness & source
- Maintenance
- Continuously reviewed & updated
- Source
- Bundesamt für Justiz
- Data quality
- 100 %