Germany

Can a Small Claims Case Be Transferred to Regular Court i...

€5,000
Jurisdictional threshold for Amtsgericht (ZPO § 23)
1 month
Deadline to object to transfer (ZPO § 24)
The Short Answer

Yes — if the claim exceeds €5,000 or involves complex legal issues, the Amtsgericht may transfer the case to the regular civil court (Landgericht) under § 23 ZPO.

What the Law Says

German small claims are handled by the Amtsgericht (local court), but statutory limits and procedural safeguards govern transfers to higher courts.

Under § 23 of the German Code of Civil Procedure (Zivilprozessordnung – ZPO), the Amtsgericht has exclusive jurisdiction for civil claims up to €5,000. Claims exceeding this amount fall within the original jurisdiction of the Landgericht (regional court).

However, even if a claim is initially filed in the Amtsgericht below €5,000, § 24 ZPO permits transfer to the Landgericht if the court determines that the matter involves exceptional complexity, requires expert evidence, or raises novel points of law — provided both parties consent or no timely objection is raised.

Statutory Text

Die Zuständigkeit des Amtsgerichts erstreckt sich auf alle vermögensrechtlichen Streitigkeiten bis zu einem Wert von 5 000 Euro.

— ZPO § 23(1)
Statutory Text

Das Amtsgericht kann das Verfahren an das Landgericht überweisen, wenn die Sache besondere Schwierigkeiten aufweist und die Überweisung sachlich geboten ist.

— ZPO § 24(1)

What to Do

1

Verify the value of your claim: If it exceeds €5,000 at filing (including interest and costs), file directly with the Landgericht.

2

If the Amtsgericht proposes transfer under § 24 ZPO, you have one month to file a written objection — otherwise transfer becomes effective.

3

Seek legal counsel early: Complex factual disputes (e.g., multi-party liability, technical expert assessments) increase transfer likelihood and require procedural readiness.

Sources

statuteZivilprozessordnung (ZPO) – German Code of Civil ProceduregovernmentBundesministerium der Justiz – Jurisdiction of German Courts

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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-10-05.