You want to file a lawsuit. Your claim is clear. But then comes the question that stops many people: How much will it actually cost?
The honest answer: It depends on the value of the claim. And it depends on the outcome. If you lose, you pay everything. If you win, you recover most of your costs. Between those two outcomes, there is a lot of uncertainty.
This article breaks the numbers down for you.
1. What Are Court Costs?
When you file a lawsuit, there are two main cost categories:
Court costs are the fees charged by the court itself. They are calculated under the German Court Costs Act (GKG) and depend on the value of the claim.
Before the court even serves your lawsuit on the defendant, you must pay an advance court fee. No advance payment, no lawsuit. On top of that, there are lawyer fees. Your own lawyer charges according to the German Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG). And if you lose the case, you also have to pay the lawyer fees of the opposing party.
This is the key point:
If you lose, you are responsible for three types of costs:
- Court fees
- Your own lawyer’s fees
- The opposing lawyer’s fees
2. How Much Does a Lawsuit Cost in Germany?
The GKG uses a fee schedule.
The basis is a so called 1.0 fee, which is assigned to the respective dispute value.
For a lawsuit in the first instance, a triple fee applies. For the second instance, a fourfold fee applies. For the third instance, a fivefold fee applies.
Current court fees under the RVG/GKG (valid from June 1, 2025):
- Dispute value of €500: €120 (first instance)
- €1,000: €183
- €5,000: €511.50
- €10,000: €849
- €25,000: €1,306.50
- €50,000: €1,914
- €100,000: €3,594
- €250,000: €7,374
- €500,000: €12,414
- €1,000,000: €18,714
Source: GKG Appendix 1 Cost Schedule, 2025/2026 edition.
For an exact calculation of your case, we recommend the AEQUIFIN Litigation Cost Calculator. In just a few seconds, you can see court fees and lawyer fees for any dispute value.
| Claim Value | 1st Instance (3x Fee) | 2nd Instance (4x Fee) | 3rd Instance (5x Fee) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €500 | €120.00 | €160.00 | €200.00 |
| €1,000 | €183.00 | €244.00 | €305.00 |
| €5,000 | €511.50 | €682.00 | €852.50 |
| €10,000 | €849.00 | €1,132.00 | €1,415.00 |
| €25,000 | €1,306.50 | €1,742.00 | €2,177.50 |
| €50,000 | €1,914.00 | €2,552.00 | €3,190.00 |
| €100,000 | €3,594.00 | €4,792.00 | €5,990.00 |
| €250,000 | €7,374.00 | €9,832.00 | €12,290.00 |
| €500,000 | €12,414.00 | €16,552.00 | €20,690.00 |
| €1,000,000 | €18,714.00 | €24,952.00 | €31,190.00 |
Source: GKG Appendix 1 Cost Schedule, valid from June 1, 2025. For an individual calculation, use the AEQUIFIN Litigation Cost Calculator.
3.How High Are Court Costs for Different Claim Values? Three Practical Examples
How Much Does a Lawsuit Cost with a Claim Value of €10,000?
A typical case: a dispute with a contractor, a rental deposit dispute, or a minor breach of contract.
- Court costs (1st instance, GKG): €849
- Lawyer fees for your own side (RVG, approx.): €1,700 to €2,000 net
- Lawyer fees for the opposing side: approximately €1,700 to €2,000
Total risk if you lose: around €4,500 to €4,800
That is almost half of the claim value. Even if you win, you must initially pay the advance court fee out of your own pocket.
How Much Does a Lawsuit Cost with a Claim Value of €50,000?
Construction defects, business disputes, or larger damages claims.
- Court costs (1st instance, GKG): €1,914
- Lawyer fees for your own side (RVG, approx.): €4,500 to €5,000 net
- Lawyer fees for the opposing side: approximately €4,500 to €5,000
Total risk if you lose: around €10,000 to €12,000
One out of every five euros of the claim value can be lost before the court has even issued a judgment.
4. How Much Does a Lawsuit Cost with a Claim Value of €200,000?
Medical malpractice claims, corporate disputes, or major breaches of contract.
- Court costs (1st instance, GKG): approximately €6,000
- Lawyer fees for your own side (RVG, approx.): €12,000 to €14,000 net
- Lawyer fees for the opposing side: approximately €12,000 to €14,000
Total risk if you lose: around €30,000 to €34,000
That equals 15 to 17 percent of the claim value that you could lose if the case is unsuccessful. Without receiving a single euro from the legal dispute.
How High Are Court Costs for a Claim Value of €30,000?
For a claim value of €30,000, court costs in the first instance are approximately €1,400 to €1,500. In addition, both parties will typically incur lawyer fees of around €3,500 to €4,000 each. If you lose, you must pay all three cost categories yourself.
Total risk with a €30,000 claim value and an unsuccessful outcome: around €8,500 to €9,500.
How High Are Court Costs for a Claim Value of €5,000?
This is where an important question arises:
Is filing a lawsuit even worthwhile?
- Court costs (1st instance): €511.50.
- Lawyer fees for both sides add another €800 to €1,000 each.
- If you lose, you will pay around €2,300 to €2,500 in total to pursue a claim worth €5,000.
That represents almost 50 percent of the claim value as pure downside risk. In these situations, many parties first consider an out of court settlement.
5. Who Pays the Costs in a Lawsuit?
The basic rule under German civil procedure law (§ 91 ZPO) is simple. The losing party bears the costs of the legal dispute.
In practice, this means:
- The winning party is reimbursed for court fees and its own lawyer fees.
- The losing party pays all three cost categories.
- If the parties settle the dispute, they agree on how the costs will be divided.
- In many cases, court costs are split equally, while each party bears its own lawyer fees.
- For a payment order procedure (Mahnbescheid), only half a court fee (0.5 fee) is charged.
This makes the costs significantly lower.
Important:
The claimant must always pay the court fee advance first. Reimbursement only takes place after a successful judgment and must be paid by the losing party. This means that capital is tied up in the short term.
6. What Is the Maximum Hourly Rate a Lawyer Can Charge?
Short answer: There is no legal maximum hourly rate for lawyers in Germany.
The RVG sets minimum fees, not maximum fees. Lawyers can also charge based on an hourly rate if the client agrees through a fee agreement. In practice, hourly rates in Germany typically range between €150 and €400. Highly specialized law firms may charge significantly more.
What the RVG does regulate are the statutory minimum fees for legal proceedings where no separate fee agreement exists. These fees depend on the value of the claim and the specific fee category that applies. The RVG Fee Schedule (RVG-VV) lists all fee categories.
For a civil lawsuit in the first instance, the following fees are typically relevant:
- Procedural Fee (No. 3100 RVG-VV): 1.3 fee multiplier
- Hearing Fee (No. 3104 RVG-VV): 1.2 fee multiplier
- Settlement Fee (No. 1000 RVG-VV): 1.5 fee multiplier (in case of a settlement)
7. RVG Fee Table
A brief explanation of what the table shows: A civil lawsuit in the first instance typically results in a total fee multiplier of 2.5 (procedural fee of 1.3 plus hearing fee of 1.2). The table shows the net lawyer fees per lawyer and the total risk in the event of a loss (both lawyers plus court costs, net).
| Claim Value | Lawyer Fees per Lawyer (Net) | Court Costs (1st Instance) | Total Risk if You Lose (Net) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €5,000 | approx. €835 | €511.50 | approx. €2,182 |
| €10,000 | approx. €1,535 | €849.00 | approx. €3,919 |
| €25,000 | approx. €2,870 | €1,306.50 | approx. €7,047 |
| €30,000 | approx. €3,278 | approx. €1,450 | approx. €8,006 |
| €50,000 | approx. €4,228 | €1,914.00 | approx. €10,370 |
| €100,000 | approx. €6,718 | €3,594.00 | approx. €17,030 |
| €200,000 | approx. €9,778 | approx. €6,000 | approx. €25,556 |
| €500,000 | approx. €17,520 | €12,414.00 | approx. €47,454 |
Calculation based on RVG § 13, using a 2.5 fee multiplier (Procedural Fee 1.3 + Hearing Fee 1.2), net amounts excluding VAT. Actual costs may vary depending on case complexity and individual fee agreements. Source: RVG Fee Schedule.
8. What If Litigation Costs Are Too High?
You have a valid claim. But you do not have the money for the court fee advance and legal representation. Or the financial risk is simply too high. What can you do?
There are three main options:
- Legal Aid (PKH): The state covers the costs if you have a low income and your case has a reasonable chance of success. The downside: The requirements are strict, and if your financial situation improves later, you may be required to repay some or all of the costs.
- Legal Expenses Insurance: If you have legal expenses insurance, it may cover both lawyer fees and court costs. However, you should check waiting periods, exclusions, and coverage limits before relying on it.
- Litigation Funding: An external litigation funder covers all costs in full. No upfront payment. No financial risk. If the case is successful, the funder receives a share of the proceeds, typically between 20 and 30 percent. If the case is unsuccessful, you pay nothing.
Litigation funding is particularly attractive for claims worth approximately €100,000 or more, although some mass claims may qualify below that threshold.
You can read our complete guide here: Litigation Funding 2026: The Complete Guide for Claimants. Check free of charge and without obligation whether your case qualifies for funding:
AEQUIFIN Litigation Cost Calculator
9. Our Conclusion: Knowledge Protects You from Costly Surprises
Legal proceedings cost more than most people expect. Not only because of court fees. If you lose, you are also responsible for both parties’ lawyer fees.
For a claim value of €50,000, total costs can quickly reach €10,000 to €12,000 out of your own pocket. People who understand their claim, realistically assess the costs, and use the right tools make better decisions.
Sometimes a settlement is the smarter choice. Sometimes pursuing the case only makes sense with a partner who assumes the financial risk. Litigation funding was created for exactly these situations. No upfront payment. No downside risk. Full cost control. Check now, free of charge, whether your case qualifies:
AEQUIFIN Litigation Cost Calculator
