Legal proceedings are often associated with high costs. Many people also underestimate the effort involved. Even at the beginning of a legal dispute, expenses arise that can quickly amount to large sums depending on the amount in dispute and the course of the case. But how exactly are these costs structured? Who ultimately pays them? Is it the claimant or the defendant? And what additional expenses can arise during the course of a legal process?
How much does a legal case cost?
A legal case can become expensive quickly. In addition to the obvious court fees, there are often other costs that many parties do not consider in advance. The actual cost of legal proceedings depends on various factors. The most important factors are the amount in dispute and how the process unfolds.
Court fees – What charges apply?
Court fees are the first major cost component in legal proceedings. They mainly consist of court charges and disbursements. The amount of court fees is primarily based on the so-called “amount in dispute”. This value reflects the financial interest the court assigns to the disputed matter. The higher the amount in dispute, the higher the court fees.
Depending on the court level, different fee schedules may apply. Proceedings at local courts are generally less expensive than those before regional or higher courts. Special costs such as disbursements for service of documents or written statements are considered part of the standard court fees and must also be taken into account.
Attorney fees – These cost factors must be considered
In addition to court fees, legal proceedings almost always involve attorney fees. These are calculated based on the German Attorney Remuneration Act (RVG) and also depend on the amount in dispute. This means they cannot be set arbitrarily.
If multiple clients are involved or the case extends over several court levels, the attorney fees increase accordingly. If settlement negotiations or additional rounds of written arguments are added, further fees arise.
Those who fail to inform themselves in time often underestimate how high attorney fees in legal proceedings can actually become. A close look at the fee schedule is therefore always worthwhile.
Act on the Remuneration of Attorneys (German Attorney Remuneration Act – RVG), Annex 2 (to Section 13 Paragraph 1 Sentence 3)
| Value in Dispute up to (€) | Fee (€) | Value in Dispute up to (€) | Fee (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 49.00 | 50,000 | 1,279.00 |
| 1,000 | 88.00 | 65,000 | 1,373.00 |
| 1,500 | 127.00 | 80,000 | 1,467.00 |
| 2,000 | 166.00 | 95,000 | 1,561.00 |
| 3,000 | 222.00 | 110,000 | 1,655.00 |
| 4,000 | 278.00 | 125,000 | 1,749.00 |
| 5,000 | 334.00 | 140,000 | 1,843.00 |
| 6,000 | 390.00 | 155,000 | 1,937.00 |
| 7,000 | 446.00 | 170,000 | 2,031.00 |
| 8,000 | 502.00 | 185,000 | 2,125.00 |
| 9,000 | 558.00 | 200,000 | 2,219.00 |
| 10,000 | 614.00 | 230,000 | 2,351.00 |
| 13,000 | 666.00 | 260,000 | 2,483.00 |
| 16,000 | 718.00 | 290,000 | 2,615.00 |
| 19,000 | 770.00 | 320,000 | 2,747.00 |
| 22,000 | 822.00 | 350,000 | 2,879.00 |
| 25,000 | 874.00 | 380,000 | 3,011.00 |
| 30,000 | 955.00 | 410,000 | 3,143.00 |
| 35,000 | 1,036.00 | 440,000 | 3,275.00 |
| 40,000 | 1,117.00 | 470,000 | 3,407.00 |
| 45,000 | 1,198.00 | 500,000 | 3,539.00 |
Additional possible cost factors in a legal proceeding
✓ Expert witness fees: If experts are brought in, this can lead to significant additional costs.
✓ Witness compensation: If summoned witnesses claim reimbursement for expenses and lost earnings.
✓ Interpreter fees: Required when proceedings involve foreign-language parties or documents.
✓ Other disbursements: These include costs for copies, travel or necessary translations.
Calculate court fees: How the calculator works
Simply enter the amount in dispute into the court fee calculator, and the selected tool will display the estimated court fees and attorney fees for your case. The calculation is based on the Court Costs Act (GKG) and the German Attorney Remuneration Act (RVG).
“The higher the amount in dispute, the higher the court and attorney fees. The following table illustrates this.”
Example values for amount in dispute and fees
| Amount in Dispute up to (€) | Fee (€) |
|---|---|
| 5,000 | 334.00 |
| 10,000 | 614.00 |
| 25,000 | 874.00 |
| 50,000 | 1,279.00 |
| 100,000 | 1,655.00 |
| 200,000 | 2,219.00 |
| 500,000 | 3,539.00 |
Who Bears the Costs of Legal Proceedings?
In a legal case, the losing party usually bears the costs. Whoever loses must pay the court fees and attorney fees. If the case ends in a partial success, the costs may be split between the claimant and the defendant.
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Claimant, Defendant or Both?
Depending on the outcome of the case, the following principles apply:
Full loss
The losing party bears all costs.
Partial success
The court allocates the costs in proportion to the success and failure of each party.
Special rulings
In exceptional cases, the court may issue a different cost decision.
Settlement or Judgment and the Impact on Costs
✓ A court settlement reduces court costs because no judgment is issued.
✓ If attorneys are involved, court costs increase due to additional settlement-related fees.
If You Cannot Afford Legal Costs
Not everyone can afford the high costs of legal proceedings out of pocket. And there is no shame in that—legal fees can reach staggering amounts. Fortunately, there are two options: state support through legal aid and the official legal aid application form, or private litigation financing via platforms like AEQUIFIN.
Legal Aid – Who Is Eligible for State Support?
Legal aid (Prozesskostenhilfe / PKH) allows individuals with low income to assert their rights in court. The following conditions must be met:
✓ Your income must not exceed certain thresholds.
✓ The court will assess whether your claim or defense has a reasonable chance of success.
✓ The legal dispute must be necessary and serious.
You can apply for legal aid directly at the responsible court, often together with the claim or defense. Please also note:
➔ Legal aid covers court fees and attorney fees,
➔ In some cases, you may be required to make installment payments if your financial situation improves.
Litigation Financing with AEQUIFIN – Your Alternative
As you can see, legal aid is not always an option. Your application may be rejected—perhaps because your income is “too high” or certain strict conditions are not met. When legal action involves high financial risks, private litigation financingis often the better choice.
With litigation financing through AEQUIFIN, you benefit from several key advantages:
✓ AEQUIFIN covers all costs for court, attorneys, and expert witnesses—so you bear no financial risk.
✓ You pay no upfront costs—all expenses are fully covered.
✓ AEQUIFIN only participates in the awarded amount if the case is successful. If not, you owe nothing.
Calculate Court Costs and Secure Financing with AEQUIFIN
Take advantage of the opportunity to quickly and easily calculate your legal costs. With AEQUIFIN’s free litigation cost calculator, you receive an initial estimate and can instantly check whether your case is eligible for financing.
The calculator estimates your attorney fees, related court costs, and additional legal expenses of the opposing party in German legal cases.
