Question 1

How accurate is the legal costs calculator?

Accepted Answer

The calculator uses the official fee tables from Annex 2 of the Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG) and Annex 2 of the Court Fees Act (GKG) as amended by the 2025 Cost Law Amendment Act, in force since 1 June 2025. It models a typical civil case with the statutory standard fees. Differences arise from a different value set by the court, fee agreements, travel costs or unusual procedural steps. The calculator is not legal advice.

Question 2

What does a case with a €5,000 amount in dispute cost?

Accepted Answer

At €5,000, one full lawyer fee is €354.50 and one full court fee €170.50. If the first instance ends with a judgment, each lawyer costs €1,078.44 (procedural fee 1.3, hearing fee 1.2, flat rate €20 and 19% VAT). Court fees are €511.50 (3.0 fees). Together that is €2,668.38, which the side that loses completely has to bear.

Question 3

Who pays the legal costs if I lose?

Accepted Answer

In German civil proceedings, the losing party bears the costs (§ 91 ZPO). These include court fees, your own lawyer and the statutory fees of the other side's lawyer. If each side partly wins, costs are split by ratio (§ 92 ZPO): if you win 30%, you bear 70% of all costs. Labour courts are an exception: in first instance each side pays its own lawyer.

Question 4

What changed with the 2025 Cost Law Amendment Act?

Accepted Answer

On 1 June 2025 lawyer fees (RVG) and court fees (GKG) were raised. The smallest lawyer fee for values up to €500 rose from €49 to €51.50, the smallest court fee from €38 to €40. All other table values rose as well, mostly by about 5 to 6.5%: at a €5,000 value, for example, from €334 to €354.50 (lawyer) and from €161 to €170.50 (court). For mandates given before 1 June 2025, the old law still applies (§ 60 RVG).

Question 5

Is a settlement cheaper than a judgment?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. If the case ends with a settlement in first instance, court fees drop from 3.0 to 1.0 (KV 1211 GKG). In return both lawyers earn an additional settlement fee of 1.0 (VV 1003 RVG), so total costs usually even rise slightly: at a €5,000 value they are €3,171.08 instead of €2,668.38. The advantage lies elsewhere: unless agreed otherwise, each side bears its own lawyer and court fees are split (§ 98 ZPO). You then pay €1,585.54 rather than up to €2,668.38 if you lose, and a costly appeal is off the table.

Question 6

How high is the court fee advance?

Accepted Answer

A claimant must pay the court fee for the proceedings in advance before the court serves the claim (§ 12 GKG). That is 3.0 fees under the GKG table: €511.50 at a €5,000 value, €1,215 at €20,000. If you win, the other side must reimburse you. If the case ends with a settlement or withdrawal, the overpaid part is offset or refunded.

Question 7

How much extra does an appeal cost?

Accepted Answer

Fees are higher on appeal: lawyers receive a procedural fee of 1.6 (VV 3200) and a hearing fee of 1.2 (VV 3202), and the court charges 4.0 fees (KV 1220). At a €20,000 value, an appeal therefore adds about €7,479 if both sides have a lawyer. An appeal is only admissible if the judgment burdens you by more than €1,000 or the court grants leave.

Question 8

Does legal aid also cover the other side's costs?

Accepted Answer

No. Legal aid covers your own court and lawyer fees, in full or against instalments depending on income. If you lose, you still have to reimburse the other side's lawyer (§ 123 ZPO). It requires low income and reasonable prospects of success (§ 114 ZPO).

Question 9

Does legal expenses insurance pay the costs?

Accepted Answer

Legal expenses insurance usually covers your own lawyer's statutory fees, court fees and, if you lose, the other side's lawyer, minus an agreed deductible. The area of law must be covered and the dispute must have arisen after the waiting period. Ask for confirmation of cover before filing a claim.

Guide: Legal Costs Calculator

Legal Costs in Germany 2026: How Lawyer and Court Fees Are Calculated (RVG/GKG)

Settlement or Judgment? What a Settlement Really Saves on Legal Costs

Legal Aid in Germany 2026: Requirements, Instalments and What It Does Not Cover

Amount in Dispute: How the Value Behind All Legal Fees Is Set in Germany

Lawyer Fees Without Going to Court: First Consultation, Letters and Business Fee

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