Apply for legal aid (Prozesskostenhilfe) and proceedings cost assistance (Verfahrenskostenhilfe)

• Prospects of success www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__114.html Legal action must not be frivolous. The application must show the court, in a conclusive manner, the sufficient prospect of success required by law (§ 114 ZPO, Zivilprozessordnung – Code of Civil Procedure). For example, you can enclose a draft of the intended statement of claim or the intended application. • No other legal protection available • There is no entitlement to legal aid for litigation costs (Prozesskostenhilfe) or legal aid for costs of proceedings (Verfahrenskostenhilfe) if a legal expenses insurance or another body would cover the costs. • It is also not granted if, under a statutory maintenance obligation, someone else must bear the costs (advance payment of litigation or proceedings costs, Prozess- oder Verfahrenskostenvorschuss). This may be the spouse/registered civil partner, or, in the case of an unmarried child, the parents or one parent. • Special personal and financial circumstances www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__115.html For the costs of the proceedings, you must first use your own income and assets. If these are not sufficient, the court can grant legal aid with or without an order for payment by instalments. • If you have been granted legal aid, you must inform the court of any changes in your personal and financial circumstances at any time, without being asked to do so and without delay. This also includes a change of address if you move. • The court checks at regular intervals whether the requirements for granting legal aid are still met. • The proceedings must not yet have ended Legal aid is generally not granted retroactively. You should therefore submit the application as early as possible. • No frivolous legal action The intended legal action must not be frivolous. Before submitting the application, you should therefore consider whether you would also take legal action if you had to pay the costs of the proceedings yourself.

• Antrag auf Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenhilfe (application for Prozesskostenhilfe [legal aid for civil court proceedings] and Verfahrenskostenhilfe [legal aid for non-contentious proceedings]) You or your appointed lawyer must submit the application in writing and give reasons for it. You may also submit the application while proceedings are ongoing, but no longer once the proceedings have already ended. • Erklärung über Ihre persönlichen und wirtschaftlichen Verhältnisse (declaration of your personal and financial circumstances) Be sure to fill out the declaration in full and answer every section. The declaration must be dated and signed by you by hand. • You must submit the declaration to the court in German. • Belege zu Ihrer persönlichen und wirtschaftlichen Situation (evidence of your personal and financial situation), in copy You can find out which documents and evidence you need to enclose from the Merkblätter (information sheets) and the instructions for filling out the form.

• Antrag auf Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenhilfe (Application for legal aid for litigation and proceedings costs) www.berlin.de/gerichte/amtsgericht-lichtenberg/_assets/formu • Ausfüllhilfe Formular Prozess- oder Verfahrenskostenhilfe (Leichte Sprache) (Guide to completing the legal aid for litigation or proceedings costs form, in Easy Language) www.berlin.de/gerichte/_assets/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/au • Erklärung über Ihre persönlichen und wirtschaftlichen Verhältnisse (Declaration of your personal and financial circumstances) www.berlin.de/gerichte/_assets/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/md • Merkblatt Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenkostenhilfe (Information sheet on legal aid for litigation and proceedings costs) www.berlin.de/gerichte/amtsgericht-lichtenberg/_assets/formu • Merkblatt: Hinweise zur Erklärung über die persönlichen und wirtschaftlichen Verhältnisse bei Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenhilfe (Deutsch) (Information sheet: notes on the declaration of personal and financial circumstances for legal aid for litigation and proceedings costs, German) www.berlin.de/gerichte/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/zp-40-hinw • Hinweisblatt und Ausfüllhinweise zur Erklärung über die persönlichen und wirtschaftlichen Verhältnisse (weitere Sprachen) (Information sheet and instructions for completing the declaration of personal and financial circumstances, further languages) www.berlin.de/gerichte/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/artikel.41

• none: for the proceedings on the application for Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenhilfe (legal aid for court and legal proceedings) • Whether costs for the lawyer arise depends on the individual case.

• Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO, Code of Civil Procedure) §§ 114 ff www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__114.html

Responsibility for Prozesskostenhilfe or Verfahrenskostenhilfe (legal aid for court proceedings) lies with the court where the proceedings are to be filed or are already under way.