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Law & Justice

File an appeal against a summary judgment

An appeal filed with the district court against a summary judgment issued without a trial, in order to obtain a full trial.

Processing: approx. 2 months
Success rate: 45.0 %

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Please note the deadline

    An objection must be filed in writing or on the record within 2 weeks of service.

  2. 2

    File an appeal

    At the local court that issued the summary judgment.

  3. 3

    Trial

    The court will issue a new ruling following an oral hearing.

Required documents

  • Summary judgmentMandatory

Responsible authority

The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →

Fees

Varies by case

Processing time

approx. 2 months

Official: max. approx. 3 months

Online application

In person or by post

Common mistakes

  • The 2-week deadline from the date of service has been missed
  • An objection without grounds is limited to legal consequences (e.g., the daily fine amount), even though a comprehensive objection was intended

Common reasons for rejection

  • The two-week objection period has expired

The essentials before applying

Who is eligible?

Individuals against whom a summary judgment has been issued and who do not accept it.

Income limit

The limit varies by household and region – see the table at the responsible authority or in the application assistant.

Processing time

Nationwide: approx. approx. 2 months

Success rate

approx. 45.0 % (estimate)

Most common mistakes

  • The 2-week deadline from the date of service has been missed
  • An objection without grounds is limited to legal consequences (e.g., the daily fine amount), even though a comprehensive objection was intended

Common reasons for rejection

  • The two-week objection period has expired

Alternatives

  • Check related services in the application assistant
  • Use social counselling before applying

If rejected

Read the decision carefully: often submitting missing documents or reapplying helps more than an objection.

Related services

Questions & Answers

How much time do I have to file an appeal?

The appeal must be received by the competent local court within two weeks of the issuance of the summary judgment.

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