How Long Does a Small Claims Case Take in Germany?

What the Law Says

German small claims are governed by the Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) and fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Amtsgericht for claims up to €5,000 (§ 23 Abs. 1 GVG). The streamlined Mahnverfahren (dunning procedure) is the default first step for monetary claims and does not require a lawyer.

Under § 686 ZPO, the Mahnverfahren allows creditors to obtain an enforceable title (Mahnbescheid) without a court hearing — provided the debtor does not file a written objection (Widerspruch) within two weeks (§ 692 ZPO). If no objection is raised, the Mahnbescheid becomes legally binding after one month (§ 694 ZPO) and can be enforced immediately.

If the debtor objects, the case automatically transfers to the Amtsgericht for an oral hearing (§ 693 ZPO), triggering standard civil proceedings. While § 253 ZPO encourages expedited handling of low-value disputes, no statutory deadline mandates maximum processing time — actual duration depends on local court workload, procedural conduct, and whether evidence or witness hearings are required.

Statutory Text

The Amtsgericht has exclusive jurisdiction for civil claims not exceeding five thousand euros.

— Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz (GVG), § 23 Abs. 1

Statutory Text

The order for payment shall become final if no objection is lodged within two weeks of service.

— Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO), § 692 Abs. 1

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