Prozesskostenhilfe und Verfahrenskostenhilfe

An application for legal aid can be made by anyone whose personal and financial circumstances mean that they cannot afford the costs of the legal proceedings in part or only in installments.

Conducting legal proceedings is subject to a fee. Anyone who is unable to raise the necessary funds for personal and financial reasons has the option of applying for legal aid. If necessary, the court will assign the applicant a lawyer of their choice.

Prerequisites:

• the applicant is unable to raise the funds required to conduct the proceedings or litigation according to his or her financial and personal circumstances,
• the intended legal defense or prosecution has sufficient prospect of success and
• the intended legal defense or prosecution is not frivolous.

There are no court fees for the application.

The application can be made for the record, i.e. orally, at the legal applications office of the competent local court. It must be submitted in writing to the court that has jurisdiction for the proceedings for which legal aid is requested.

Application forms for legal aid can be obtained from the court responsible for the respective proceedings.