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German Litigation Cost Calculator

Estimate court fees and statutory attorney fees for a first-instance lawsuit in Germany. Based on the current RVG and GKG fee tables (effective June 2025).

Dispute Value

€5,000€100,000,000

Cost Breakdown — First Instance

Court Fees (GKG)

Standard fee (3.0 × GKG fee)€3,594.00

Your Attorney Fees (RVG)

Verfahrensgeb\u00fchr (1.3)€2,281.50
Terminsgeb\u00fchr (1.2)€2,106.00
Auslagenpauschale€20.00
Subtotal (net)€4,407.50
19% VAT€837.43
Total€5,244.93

Opposing Attorney Fees (RVG)

Verfahrensgeb\u00fchr (1.3)€2,281.50
Terminsgeb\u00fchr (1.2)€2,106.00
Auslagenpauschale€20.00
Subtotal (net)€4,407.50
19% VAT€837.43
Total€5,244.93
Total First Instance Costs€14,083.86

What You Actually Pay — Three Scenarios

German litigation follows the “loser pays” principle. Your actual costs depend on the outcome.

Best Case

If You Win

The opposing party reimburses all court fees and all statutory attorney fees for both sides.

€0.00
Your net cost
Worst Case

If You Lose

You bear all costs: court fees, your own attorney fees, and the opposing attorney’s statutory fees.

€14,083.86
Your net cost
Settlement (50/50)

If You Settle

Each side bears its own attorney fees (incl. settlement fee) plus half of the reduced court costs.

€7,932.38
Your net cost (50/50 split)

Important: Statutory Minimum Fees

The fees shown above are the statutory minimum fees under the German Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG). In practice, our engagement is generally based on hourly rates, which may exceed the statutory fees depending on the complexity of your case. However, in the event of a successful outcome, only the statutory RVG fees shown here are reimbursable by the opposing party — not any agreed hourly rates above the statutory minimum.

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