Legal aid in Germany: how to get a lawyer you cannot afford

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Nobody in Germany should have to give up their rights because they cannot pay a lawyer. Two forms of state help exist for that: one for advice before anything goes to court, and one for the court case itself. Both depend on your income and savings, not on your nationality.

Rules, amounts and deadlines change. Check the official source named at the end before you act, and ask the office in your city, because procedures differ from town to town.

Step by step

1. For advice: go to the local court

   Take your problem and your papers to the Amtsgericht of the district where you live and ask for Beratungshilfe. Bring ID, proof of income (payslips or benefit notice), your rental contract and bank statements, and the letters the matter is about. The address is at gerichtsverzeichnis.de.

   Done

2. Get the certificate

   If your income is low enough, the court gives you a Beratungshilfeschein. It covers advice on any area of law, and if needed letters from the lawyer to the other side.

   Done

3. See a lawyer

   Choose a lawyer for that area of law and hand over the certificate. The lawyer may charge you 15 euros at most. Clarify at the start that you are coming with a certificate.

   Done

4. For a court case: apply for Prozesskostenhilfe

   Legal aid for proceedings covers civil, labour, administrative and social courts. In family matters it is called Verfahrenskostenhilfe. It is not for criminal defence. The form, a declaration of your personal and financial circumstances, goes to the court dealing with the case, usually through your lawyer.

   Done

5. Know the conditions

   You cannot pay the costs yourself, or only in part. The case has a reasonable chance of success. And a person who had to pay themselves would sensibly go to court over it.

   Done

6. Know what it covers

   Your own lawyer and the court fees. Depending on your income you pay nothing or monthly instalments. If you lose, you still have to pay the lawyer of the other side, except in the first instance at a labour court, where each side always pays its own.

   Done

7. Report changes

   For up to four years the court can check your finances again and ask for repayment if they have improved a lot. Tell the court about a new address or a much higher income.

   Done

Good to know

Before legal aid there are often cheaper routes: tenants' associations for rent disputes, unions for work disputes, consumer advice centres for contracts, and migration counselling centres for residence questions.

A legal expenses insurance pays first if you have one. Check your policy.

In a labour dispute the deadlines are short: losing or quitting a job in Germany: notice periods and your rights.

For a letter demanding money: unpaid bill or debt collection letter in Germany: what to do.

In short: Advice: Beratungshilfeschein from the Amtsgericht, lawyer for at most 15 euros. Court case: Prozesskostenhilfe with low income and a reasonable chance. Report changes for four years.