Litigation cost calculator
What does a civil lawsuit in Germany cost if you lose it? From the Streitwert (amount in dispute) the calculator works out the statutory lawyers' fees under the RVG (Lawyers' Remuneration Act) and the court fees under the GKG (Court Fees Act), from out-of-court representation up to the Revision.
Cost risk if you lose
4.776,00 €
Streitwert 10.000,00 €, first instance, ending by judgment, 1 client, 1 opponent, 19 % VAT
We built this calculator to the best of our knowledge and belief, but we cannot guarantee that its results are correct.
- Your lawyer
- 1.963,50 €
- Opposing lawyer
- 1.963,50 €
- Court fees
- 849,00 €
| Item | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Your lawyer (RVG) | ||
| Verfahrensgebühr (procedural fee)VV 3100 RVG | 1,3 | 847,60 € |
| Terminsgebühr (hearing fee)VV 3104 RVG | 1,2 | 782,40 € |
| Auslagenpauschale (flat-rate expenses)VV 7002 RVG, at most 20 € | 20 % | 20,00 € |
| Net | 1.650,00 € | |
| Umsatzsteuer (VAT)VV 7008 RVG | 19 % | 313,50 € |
| Your lawyer, total | 1.963,50 € | |
| Opposing lawyer (RVG) | ||
| Statutory fees with flat-rate expenses and VATAssumes a lawyer of its own per opponent, no increase or credit | 1.963,50 € | |
| Court (GKG) | ||
| Gerichtsgebühr (court fee)KV 1210 GKG | 3,0 | 849,00 € |
| Cost risk, first instance | 4.776,00 € | |
Amounts and rates are in German notation: 1.234,56 € is EUR 1,234.56 and a rate of 1,3 is 1.3.
How it is calculated
The Streitwert gives one simple lawyer's fee under Section 13 RVG and one simple court fee under Section 34 GKG. Every fee in the result is a multiple of it, at the rate set in the RVG's fee schedule (VV) or the GKG's schedule of costs (KV).
- Out of court: Geschäftsgebühr 1.3 (VV 2300). Its range is 0.5 to 2.5, more than 1.3 only for extensive or difficult work, so we use 1.3. If a lawsuit follows, half of it, at most 0.75, is credited against the first instance's Verfahrensgebühr (Vorbemerkung 3 (4) VV).
- Lawyer, first instance: Verfahrensgebühr 1.3 (VV 3100) and Terminsgebühr 1.2 (VV 3104), with a settlement also the Einigungsgebühr 1.0 (VV 1000, 1003).
- Lawyer, appeal: Verfahrensgebühr 1.6 (VV 3200) and Terminsgebühr 1.2 (VV 3202), with a settlement also the Einigungsgebühr 1.3 (VV 1000, 1004).
- Lawyer, Revision: Verfahrensgebühr 2.3 (VV 3206, 3208), since only lawyers admitted at the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) can act there, and Terminsgebühr 1.5 (VV 3210), with a settlement also the Einigungsgebühr 1.3 (VV 1000, 1004).
- Several clients in the same matter: the Verfahrensgebühr and Geschäftsgebühr rise by 0.3 per further client, by at most 2.0 in all (VV 1008).
- Per lawyer and instance, and out of court: Auslagenpauschale of 20 % of the fees, at most 20 € (VV 7002), and VAT at the rate entered, usually 19 % (VV 7008).
- Court: 3.0 fees in the first instance (KV 1210), 1.0 with a settlement (KV 1211). In the appeal 4.0 (KV 1220), 2.0 with a settlement (KV 1222). In the Revision 5.0 (KV 1230), 3.0 with a settlement (KV 1232).
- The losing side bears the costs of the lawsuit and reimburses the other side's statutory lawyer's fees (Section 91 ZPO), with several opponents each of them. That is why the cost risk adds up all lawyers and the court.
Assumptions
Every lawyer bills the statutory fees, and every instance has a hearing. The appeal and the Revision concern the whole Streitwert, and the Revision is admitted. With several instances and a settlement, the instances before the last end by judgment and the settlement is reached in the last one. Several clients share the same subject matter. Every opponent has a lawyer of its own billing on the full Streitwert, and the losing side reimburses all of them: the worst case. The out-of-court Geschäftsgebühr is set at 1.3 and borne by your side alone, the other side does not reimburse it here. The VAT rate entered applies to all lawyers, court fees carry no VAT.
Not included
An out-of-court settlement fee, a preceding payment order procedure (Mahnverfahren), an appeal against the refusal of leave for a Revision (Nichtzulassungsbeschwerde), travel and other expenses, witnesses and experts, enforcement, legal aid (Prozesskostenhilfe) and fees agreed above the statutory ones.
Without guarantee (ohne Gewähr). The result is an estimate from the fee tables of the RVG and the GKG as amended by the KostBRÄG 2025, in force since 1 June 2025. If the lawyer was instructed or the claim filed before that day, the previous law may still apply (Section 60 RVG, Section 71 GKG). Which fees actually arise depends on how the case runs. The calculator is no substitute for advice on your case.
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Frequently asked questions
What we get asked most often about this topic. If your question is missing, write to office@sinabis.com.
The cost risk of a civil lawsuit in Germany from the amount in dispute (Streitwert): the statutory fees of your own lawyer and the opposing lawyers under the RVG and the court fees under the GKG. Optionally with out-of-court representation and its credit, for the first instance, up to the appeal or up to the Revision, ending by judgment or settlement, for several clients or opponents and with any VAT rate.
Section 13 RVG and Section 34 GKG with their fee tables as amended by the KostBRÄG 2025, in force since 1 June 2025. If the lawyer was instructed or the claim filed before then, the previous law may still apply (Section 60 RVG, Section 71 GKG).
An out-of-court settlement fee, a preceding payment order procedure, an appeal against the refusal of leave for a Revision, travel and other expenses, witnesses and experts, enforcement and legal aid. It assumes the statutory fees, the Geschäftsgebühr 1.3 out of court, and a lawyer of its own for every opponent.
Several clients in the same matter raise your lawyer's Verfahrensgebühr and Geschäftsgebühr by 0.3 per further client, by at most 2.0 in all (VV 1008 RVG). For every opponent it assumes a lawyer of its own on the full Streitwert, whom you reimburse if you lose, as the worst case. Out of court it uses the Geschäftsgebühr 1.3 (VV 2300 RVG), borne by your side alone. If a lawsuit follows, half of it, at most 0.75, is credited against the first instance's Verfahrensgebühr (Vorbemerkung 3 (4) VV RVG).
Under Section 91 ZPO the losing party bears the costs of the lawsuit and reimburses the other side's necessary costs, including its lawyer's statutory fees. So the winner has these costs reimbursed. With a partial win the costs are split in proportion, or each side bears its own lawyer and half the court fees (Section 92 ZPO).
No. It is an estimate without guarantee based on the statutory tables. Which fees actually arise depends on how the case runs, and the calculator is no substitute for advice on your case.