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  4. Rechtsangelegenheiten - Beratungshilfe beantragen Legal matters - Apply for Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance)

Rechtsangelegenheiten - Beratungshilfe beantragen Legal matters - Apply for Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance)

Rechtsangelegenheiten - Beratungshilfe beantragen
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance) is granted to low-income citizens who need legal advice or out-of-court representation (= outside of court proceedings). In matters of criminal law and administrative offence law (Ordnungswidrigkeitsrecht), Beratungshilfe is granted only for advice, not for representation. Beratungshilfe can be approved only once per matter. Once granted, Beratungshilfe remains in effect until the matter is finally settled out of court. If the personal and financial requirements are met and the matter cannot be settled by the court, the court issues the citizen, upon fulfillment of the requirements described below, a Berechtigungsschein (certificate of entitlement) for Beratungshilfe by a lawyer of their choice. If court proceedings occur, Prozesskostenhilfe (legal aid for court proceedings) or Verfahrenskostenhilfe (legal aid for family-law proceedings) can be applied for, which is then decided on within the court proceedings.

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• The citizen is first required to contact the relevant opposing party themselves. Various forms of assistance are available for this (e.g. Jugendamt (youth welfare office), debt counselling, legal expenses insurance, tenants' association, Betreuungsbehörden (care/guardianship authorities), advice centres, etc.). Especially with authorities, many matters can then be resolved without the assistance of a lawyer. • If the court can meet the citizen's request through immediate information or by taking down an application, it provides this assistance itself. • The intended legal action must not appear frivolous (mutwillig). • The funds for advice or representation cannot be raised by the person themselves The personal and financial circumstances must be such that the funds required for advice or representation cannot be raised by the person themselves.

Documents you need

Antrag auf Bewilligung von Beratungshilfe (application for approval of legal advice assistance) The application can be submitted by post (with documents in copy) or in person at the responsible Amtsgericht (local court) (with documents in original). • Proof of identity Identity card or passport with Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) • Proof of income e.g. earnings statements, ALG II notice (unemployment benefit II notice), etc. • Tenancy agreement • Bank statements for the last three months • Proof of ongoing payment obligations and special financial burdens • Documents relating to your legal problem e.g. correspondence to and from the opposing party

Forms

• Application for the grant of Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance) www.berlin.de/gerichte/_assets/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/an

Fees

• none: judicial Beratungshilfeverfahren (legal advice assistance proceedings) • 15.00 euros: The advising person may charge a fee for the consultation or out-of-court representation.

Legal basis

• Beratungshilfegesetz (BerHG, Legal Advice Assistance Act) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/berathig/

Further information

• Orts- und Gerichtsverzeichnis (directory of locations and courts) (Justizportal, justice portal) www.justizadressen.nrw.de/de/justiz/suche

Who is responsible

Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance) can only be applied for at the Amtsgericht (local court) in whose Zuständigkeitsbereich (area of responsibility) the person concerned is registered with their main residence.

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 326037 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326037/