Here we publish perspectives on recent rulings, insights into our case practice, and success stories from day-to-day life at the firm — presented clearly for our clients.
Inheritance & Estate Law
How inheritance works in Germany for foreign heirs — the certificate of inheritance (Erbschein), valid forms of a German will, and the forced heirship share (Pflichtteil) under § 2303 BGB.
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Inheritance & Estate Law
German inheritance tax (Erbschaftsteuer) explained — the three tax classes, tax-free allowances by relationship, tax rates, and how to reduce the tax burden on an estate.
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Tenancy & Real Estate Law
Tenant rights in Germany — the basics of a lease agreement (Mietvertrag), notice periods for termination, and the rules on the security deposit (Kaution) under the BGB.
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Tenancy & Real Estate Law
How rent increases work in Germany (Mieterhöhung) — the local comparative rent, the rent cap (Kappungsgrenze) and Mietpreisbremse, plus how eviction protection (Kündigungsschutz) works for tenants.
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Immigration & Residence Law
Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Niederlassungserlaubnis, Daueraufenthalt-EU, and the EU Blue Card — we break down the main categories of German residence permit and the typical mistakes applicants make.
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Immigration & Residence Law
The conditions for naturalization in Germany have changed significantly since the 2024 reform: the residence requirement has been cut to 5 years and dual citizenship is now allowed. We break down the requirements and common mistakes.
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Late Resettlers
Who can obtain late-resettler status under § 4 BVFG, how the language test and application work, and how to include family members under § 7 BVFG.
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Immigration & Residence Law
Who qualifies for family reunification in Germany, what language and financial requirements must be met, and how long the procedure takes — a detailed breakdown.
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Immigration & Residence Law
The EU Blue Card is one of the most attractive residence permits for highly qualified professionals: we explain the requirements, salary thresholds, and the fast track to permanent residence.
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Immigration & Residence Law
§ 24 AufenthG grants temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens and certain other individuals — we explain what rights the status grants, how long it lasts, and how to switch to another residence permit.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Is There a Chance to Get a Residence Permit When It's Your Last Chance?" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit in Germany for family reunification: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Obtaining a German Residence Permit as an Israeli Citizen" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27–36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"From Temporary Protection Under § 24 AufenthG to a Stable Residence Permit Through an Employment Contract, or How to Change Your Basis of Stay in Germany" — how to change your basis of stay in Germany: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"To Germany in Old Age" — the rules for admitting Jewish emigrants to Germany: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Rules for Admitting Jewish Immigrants in Light of the Latest Amendments of May 21, 2015" — the rules for admitting Jewish emigrants to Germany: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"A Visa to Study the German Language in Germany. Sprachvisum" — types of German visas and the procedure for obtaining them: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"A Business Visa to Germany Is No Problem With the Right Approach" — types of German visas and the procedure for obtaining them: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"German Visa - Schengen Visa - Types of Visas to Europe and Germany" — types of German visas and the procedure for obtaining them: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Refusal to Issue a German Visa and Ways to Solve Problems Obtaining a Visitor Visa to Germany" — types of German visas and the procedure for obtaining them: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Questions About Kazakh Citizenship" — questions of obtaining and retaining German citizenship (Einbürgerung, §§ 8-12 StAG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"A Long Farewell to Ukrainian Citizenship" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on German citizenship and dual citizenship matters.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"How to Have It Both Ways and Keep Dual Citizenship" — questions of obtaining and retaining German citizenship (Einbürgerung, §§ 8-12 StAG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Through the Thorns of the Bureaucratic Machine to German Citizenship" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on German citizenship and dual citizenship matters.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Citizenship with a Burden, or Dual Citizenship in Germany" — questions of obtaining and retaining German citizenship (Einbürgerung, §§ 8-12 StAG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Dual or Triple Citizenship?" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on German citizenship and dual citizenship matters.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Request to Determine Whether Citizenship Exists" — questions of obtaining and retaining German citizenship (Einbürgerung, §§ 8-12 StAG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Military Duty and Renouncing Citizenship, or German Citizenship While Keeping Your Previous One" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on German citizenship and dual citizenship matters.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Obtaining German Citizenship Without Renouncing Ukrainian Citizenship" — questions of obtaining and retaining German citizenship (Einbürgerung, §§ 8-12 StAG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"German Citizenship Will Be Granted Without Renouncing Ukrainian Citizenship" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on German citizenship and dual citizenship matters.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"How to Stay in Germany After a Divorce If You Have Young Children There?" — obtaining a residence permit or a permanent settlement permit in Germany (Niederlassungserlaubnis, § 9 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"What to Do If You Have a Residence Permit — But the Wrong One?" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on residence permit matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Live and Learn, or How to Get Out of Attending Integration Courses" — obtaining a residence permit or a permanent settlement permit in Germany (Niederlassungserlaubnis, § 9 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Residence Restrictions for Resettlers and Jewish Emigrants" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on residence permit matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"What Can an Unexpectedly Long Trip Away from Germany Cost You?" — obtaining a residence permit or a permanent settlement permit in Germany (Niederlassungserlaubnis, § 9 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Want a Passport? Serve in the Army: Solving the Problem of Military Service Obligations for Armenian Citizens" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on residence permit matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit in Germany: Resourcefulness Against Bureaucracy" — obtaining a residence permit or a permanent settlement permit in Germany (Niederlassungserlaubnis, § 9 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"The Blue Card, or Be Proud of Your Knowledge, Not Your Title" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on residence permit matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"The Path to Obtaining a Permanent Settlement Permit in Germany" — obtaining a residence permit or a permanent settlement permit in Germany (Niederlassungserlaubnis, § 9 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Can't Wait to Get Married! Civil Partnership or Marriage for Same-Sex Couples" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Registering a Partnership and Obtaining a Residence Permit in Germany" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit in Germany for family reunification: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Germany's Civil Partnership Act (Same-Sex Unions in Germany)" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Residence Period in Germany Extended by One and a Half Years" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Granting a Residence Permit in Germany to a Family Member of an EU Citizen" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit in Germany for family reunification: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Reunification of Family Members with an EU Citizen" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Not Everything Desired Is Possible, or an Exceptional Case of Family Reunification in Germany Without Returning to the 'Home Country'" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Reunification with a Minor Child: What to Do When the Father Exists Only on Paper?" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit for family reunification in Germany: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Reunification of a Mother with a Minor Child in Germany" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification matters in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Baby Detective, or a Story of Family Reunification in Germany" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Family Reunification and Difficult Life Circumstances" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit for family reunification in Germany: a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Love and a Good Lawyer Work Wonders and Reunite Families" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"A Melodrama About a Family Reunification That Almost Fell Apart" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit in Germany for family reunification: the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Does Salary Size Matter for Family Reunification?" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Don't Part with Loved Ones, or the Particulars of Reunification in Germany" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Extending a Residence Permit for a Patient Too Ill to Travel" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"There's Nothing More Permanent Than a Temporary Residence Permit in Germany" — family reunification in Germany (Familienzusammenführung, §§ 27-36 AufenthG): a case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"When the Elderly Have No Hope at Home, Germany Awaits" — how to obtain a visa or residence permit in Germany for family reunification: the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm.
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Immigration & Residence Law
"Family Reunification with a German Citizen. Die Regelung des Nachzugs von Ehegatten und Lebenspartner" — a real case from the practice of the Johannes Engelmann law firm on family reunification in Germany.
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Immigration & Residence Law
A 72-year-old client married his bride in Kyiv to the same Mendelssohn's March once played for Queen Victoria — but the state proved far less romantic. How our attorneys turned a disability, zero German proficiency and the bride's Polish work visa into a residence permit in 15 minutes flat.
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Immigration & Residence Law
The parents got their residence permit — but the insurance company still refused to cover them over their financial status. How a certificate from the immigration authority documenting their inability to leave the country unlocked statutory health insurance.
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Immigration & Residence Law
Germany's Consulate General refused our client's husband a visa over a serious-crime conviction in Russia. By calculating the exact date his record expired under the Russian Criminal Code, our attorneys proved he had been legally record-free since May 2016.
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Immigration & Residence Law
One day our client received his permanent residence permit — the very next day, his new wife was refused in Minsk for lacking exactly that permit. How data that was two weeks out of date in the authority's system nearly derailed a family reunification.
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Late Resettlers
A step-by-step official guide to Section 27(3) BVFG: how a late resettler already living in Germany can additionally include a spouse or descendants in their admission permit through the "Härtefall" hardship procedure and an A1-level language test.
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Immigration & Residence Law
The embassy refused our client's husband a family-reunification visa, suspecting a sham marriage over discrepancies in the couple's separate interview answers. How our attorney showed that different words for the same thing aren't proof of fraud — just ordinary human variation.
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Immigration & Residence Law
The first request for a residence permit for a sick mother was refused — her condition wasn't yet serious enough. Eighteen months later, everything changed within three weeks: hospitalization, suspected dementia, and a three-year permit despite two trips to Ukraine that nearly derailed the case.
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Immigration & Residence Law
A doctor by profession could have cared for her parents herself, but the authority initially found their illnesses not serious enough. Two years later, a mother's hospitalization with suspected dementia and a father's worsening Alzheimer's changed everything — the permit was granted just two weeks before their tourist visa expired.
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Late Resettlers
A survey of key court rulings on late resettler matters: when leaving the area of forced resettlement does not yet "break" entitlement to the status, whether adopted persons can qualify as descendants, and why the right to reopen a case did not arise for everyone.
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Late Resettlers
Our client was refused back in 1996, and his former attorney simply vanished, leaving the case unfinished. Eighteen years later, a fresh inquiry revealed the case had never even been formally closed — opening the door to review.
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Late Resettlers
Registering a company in Germany and buying a house nearly cost our client his late-resettler status — the BVA decided he had shifted the center of his life to Germany. How our attorney proved otherwise using 35-day Schengen visas and the company's suspended operations.
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Late Resettlers
Can a late resettler's descendant, already living in Germany, "upgrade" their status from Section 7 to Section 4 BVFG? The Federal Administrative Court overturned a sensational regional court ruling — here's why, and what it means for descendants.
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Late Resettlers
Her birth certificate listed her father as German, but her own marriage certificate listed her as Ukrainian. The BVA refused her status over this discrepancy. How a court ruling correcting the civil record opened the way to an Aufnahmebescheid.
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Late Resettlers
Every one of Yuri's documents listed him as Russian — except his birth certificate, which recorded his mother's German nationality. How court rulings correcting the "nationality" field across four different documents opened the way to an Aufnahmebescheid for the whole family.
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Late Resettlers
Our client's mother, in her seventies, was diagnosed with Parkinson's — and, it turned out, Alzheimer's too. Discouraging news, but it became exactly the grounds for exempting her from the language test under Section 6(2) BVFG.
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Late Resettlers
The father was refused late resettler status back in the 1990s, and the chain linking grandfather, father and grandson seemed permanently broken. How Section 27(2) BVFG let the grandson join his resettler grandfather's admission permit, bypassing the father's refusal.
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Late Resettlers
An elderly applicant's medical exemption from the German language test was rejected over an imprecise translation of his medical certificate. How our attorney fixed the wording and secured the Aufnahmebescheid.
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Late Resettlers
Marina was refused late-resettler status twice for lacking a document proving her German ethnicity. Four years of persistence — and our attorney secured recognition of her Bekenntnis based solely on a successful language test.
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Late Resettlers
A mother obtained late-resettler status under Section 4 BVFG, while her daughter qualified only under Section 7. After a family rift split their plans, the daughter later secured her own Section 4 status independently — this time for herself and her husband.
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Late Resettlers
The new 2024 KrWoFGV regulation grants exceptions from the residency requirement for German resettlers who fled Ukraine or Russia due to the war — but leaves those who found refuge in other EU countries unprotected.
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Late Resettlers
Our client decided to become a late resettler after consulting nothing but internet forums — and nearly lost his chance over one crucial detail in his documents. How our attorney saved the case.
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Late Resettlers
A young woman with flawless German was refused simply for submitting the "wrong" language diploma. How our attorney convinced officials that a Deutsches Sprachdiplom outranks a formal Goethe-Zertifikat B1.
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Late Resettlers
A young engineer took a six-month internship in France while waiting on the BVA's decision — and was refused precisely because of that trip. How our attorney rebuilt the case from scratch and secured a positive decision.
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Late Resettlers
A mother wanted to include her adult son in her resettlement application — but an entry on his birth certificate complicated everything. How our attorney resolved the paternity question and preserved the son's own right to independent repatriation.
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Late Resettlers
His mother's death, then a stroke, kept an applicant from passing the language test — and the BVA refused him, assuming he simply didn't want to cooperate. How our attorney won an exemption from the test in court.
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Late Resettlers
A mother failed the language exam and was refused back in the early 2000s — and ten years later her adult son was refused too, on the strength of the same old case. How our attorney won a favorable decision for both.
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Late Resettlers
The BVA refused the adult daughter of a late resettler because the family relationship with her father could not be proven. A genetic test and evidence of mental commitment to the German people turned the authority's decision around.
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Late Resettlers
The applicant received his entry permit years earlier, and by the time he was finally ready to move, the requirements had changed and his adult daughters already had families of their own. How our attorney helped the whole extended family move together.
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Late Resettlers
A resettler family arrived at the Friedland transit camp holding only a Schengen visa instead of a national one, and without having deregistered in Russia. How our attorney saved their right to resettle.
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Late Resettlers
The client was told his case had been "paused" — in reality, a negative decision had already been issued and the appeal deadline had nearly run out. How our attorney got the deadline reinstated and won.
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Late Resettlers
A Soviet-era passport no longer listed the holder's nationality, and the authority doubted his German origin. The saving piece of evidence turned out to be the archive of his old village school.
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Late Resettlers
A father moved to Germany as the descendant of a late resettler, leaving his seven-year-old daughter behind in Siberia. Eleven years later she was finally able to join him — but only once she turned eighteen.
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Late Resettlers
An exchange student married a German citizen and applied for late-resettler status — only to be refused for having "left the area of forced resettlement." How our attorney proved otherwise.
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Late Resettlers
The great-granddaughter of a German citizen could have spent years on a paternity-recognition procedure — or joined her late-resettler grandfather via an Einbeziehungsbescheid. How our attorney chose the faster, more reliable path.
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Late Resettlers
After an unsuccessful marriage to a German citizen, a woman returned to Kazakhstan — and when she later wanted to join her resettler parents, she was refused for having "left the area of forced resettlement." The story of one successful appeal.
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Late Resettlers
Confusing dates in Soviet-era documents, and an adult son with a developmental delay who failed the language exam twice — how our attorneys arranged a simplified exam right at the German consulate.
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Late Resettlers
During her German-language interview for late-resettler status, our client suffered a seizure — and was later diagnosed with epilepsy. How we secured a simplified interview instead of an outright rejection.
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Late Resettlers
Our client was refused late-resettler status because she had already left her place of forced resettlement to join her German husband. How we secured her inclusion in her mother's admission permit instead.
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Late Resettlers
An orphaned girl was adopted by an ethnically German teacher, who later obtained late-resettler status. Family reunification was initially refused on the strength of a Federal Administrative Court precedent — until we secured a review.
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Late Resettlers
An applicant's son was excluded from her admission permit due to an intellectual disability that prevented him from sitting the language test. How a properly documented medical certificate changed the authority's decision.
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Late Resettlers
A string of childbirths kept our client from sitting her scheduled language test for late-resettler status. How we secured recognition of good cause and had a B1 certificate accepted instead of a retest.
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Late Resettlers
Our client's own case hinged entirely on his father being recognized as a late resettler — but his father fell gravely ill and passed away before a decision was reached. How we still secured a favorable outcome.
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Late Resettlers
Our client filed her own application against our advice to wait for her mother's decision first — and was refused. How a settlement with the authority tied her case to her mother's outcome.
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Late Resettlers
Our client's father was refused late-resettler status back in the 1990s — which automatically stripped the son of any chance at his own status decades later. How the father's renewed application reopened the path for the entire family.
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Traffic & Transport Law
Simple, medium or gross negligence? We break down the line between civil (§ 276 BGB) and criminal (§ 15, 222, 229, 316 StGB) liability for drivers in Germany.
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Traffic & Transport Law
Martin rode an e-scooter home from a bar — and learned Germany's Strafbefehl system and § 153a StPO the hard way. The story of one defense, from the police letter to the court's verdict.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A neighbor left a note under a windshield wiper — and a young driver found himself under investigation for Fahrerflucht (§ 142 StGB) with a €2,500 insurance bill. How an independent expert opinion proved his innocence.
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Traffic & Transport Law
Roman took an e-scooter instead of a taxi after a birthday party — and landed on the line between a fine and a criminal case under § 316 StGB. How a discrepancy in the breathalyzer readings changed the outcome.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A neighbor reported to police that a young woman had clipped a parked car and driven off — even though neither car had a scratch on it. How a careful review of the case file proved her innocence.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A Ukrainian long-haul driver hit a parked car in a motel lot and fled the scene — only for police to catch up with him a few kilometers later and test him for alcohol. How the attorney reduced the punishment to a fine and a six-month ban instead of prison.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A smashed phone, a burst of anger, and a late-night drive onto the autobahn — the driver hit a motorcyclist at speed and fled. How the attorney got the sentence reduced from 1.8 years in actual custody to 1.3 years suspended.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A witness only remembered the car's color and make — and police summoned a woman for questioning whose husband looked nothing like the described "dark-haired man over 50." How inspecting the car and a mismatched description got the charge dropped.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A neighbor with a brand-new Maserati found dents and suspected the owner of an old Opel. How a paint-color mismatch and a solid alibi got the case closed under Section 170 StPO.
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Traffic & Transport Law
An open car door outside a pharmacy left a cyclist on the pavement with broken ribs. How the attorney proved there was no intent and had the case closed for triviality (Section 153 StPO).
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Traffic & Transport Law
A gas station clerk called the police after seeing an intoxicated man near a car — even though he never got behind the wheel. How witness testimony helped get the drunk-driving charge dropped.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A truck driver was stopped on the way to Berlin — and it turned out a driving ban from two years earlier had never been formally lifted. How the case was closed and the ban resolved retroactively.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A BMW driver insulted and grabbed a cyclist who pointed out she was blocking a bike lane. Photo identification, the victim joining the proceedings as a co-plaintiff, and the outcome — a fine of 40 daily rates.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A young man handed his personal data to an online scammer for a promised job — and ended up facing traffic fines from several countries for a car he never drove. How the firm got the vehicle deregistered and the scammer prosecuted under §263 StGB.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A Canadian resident accidentally hit his neighbor's car and fence, then simply re-parked his car. A month later came a police summons under §142 StGB. How the firm got the case closed under §170(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for lack of a criminal offense.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A young woman bought a supposedly "unused" ticket from a stranger at a discount — and ended up charged with fraud and document forgery under §267 StGB. How the firm proved she had no intent and got the case closed under §170 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
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Traffic & Transport Law
Our client was accused of fleeing the scene of an accident based on a license plate the victim himself wasn't sure he'd read correctly. How the firm got the case closed under §170 StPO for lack of evidence.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A delivery driver drove past without hearing or noticing a collision, and the other driver accused her of fleeing the scene. How the firm proved she lacked subjective fault and got the case closed under §170 StPO.
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Traffic & Transport Law
A woman signaled her bell and overtook a cyclist ahead — but both riders fell and were injured. How the firm proved fault couldn't be established and got the case closed under §170(2) StPO.
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Traffic & Transport Law
Falling asleep at the wheel at an intersection with a blood alcohol level of 1.9‰, our client faced losing his license — and even prison, over a questionable foreign driving license. How the firm secured a €600 fine instead of jail time.
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Traffic & Transport Law
Panicking at the sight of police while intoxicated, our client fled and caused an accident with over €20,000 in damage. How the firm secured a €500 fine instead of a harsher penalty and cut the driving ban in half.
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Corporate Law · GmbHG
A step-by-step overview of forming a GmbH in Germany: €25,000 share capital, choosing between a Gesellschaftsvertrag and a Musterprotokoll, notarization, and registration with the Handelsregister, Gewerbeamt and Finanzamt.
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Corporate Law · GmbHG
The UG (haftungsbeschränkt) lets you form a limited-liability company with as little as €1 in capital — but it comes with a duty to set aside 25% of annual profit in reserve. We break down how it differs from a classic GmbH and the path to converting into one.
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Civil Law
A step-by-step overview of debt collection in Germany, from the pre-trial Mahnverfahren procedure to enforcing a court judgment.
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Civil Law
A client's case of selling goods online who fell victim to an account-hijacking fraud, and how his attorney helped protect his interests in court.
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Civil Law
How a pharmaceutical company's dispute with its German drug supplier shows why a standard-form contract should be checked against §§ 305-310 BGB before it is signed.
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Civil Law
How § 203 BGB on the suspension of the limitation period during settlement talks helped a creditor recover a debt even after the debtor claimed to be insolvent.
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Civil Law
The story of a loan between acquaintances secured only by a handwritten IOU, and how an attorney proved the debtor's signature was genuine and recovered the debt despite the defendant's attempt to invoke the limitation period.
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Civil Law
How a pharmaceutical distributor, short-supplied by its German supplier and cut off from an exclusive contract, secured a court settlement and full performance of the deal.
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Civil Law
A loan between business partners in Germany: the debtor claims he already repaid the full €45,000 — but the two sides' accounts could not be more different. Part 1.
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Civil Law
The continuation of Pavel and Stefan's story: how the wives' testimony, customs declarations, and a translator's mistake decided the outcome of the €45,000 debt claim. Part 2.
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Civil Law
Yuriy lent his university friend 48,000 euros without a proper contract — then the friend vanished. The story of how to legally recover a debt from a friend.
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Civil Law
A family had a house near Hamburg renovated for an agreed 11,000 euros — then, six months later, received a bill for 26,000. How to challenge a contractor's inflated claims under German law.
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Civil Law
Martina received letters from debt collectors demanding payment for a purchase she never made. The story of how to spot a fraudulent debt-collection scheme and refuse to pay an unjustified claim.
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Civil Law
Viktor was carrying 18,000 euros in cash to buy a car in Germany — and failed to declare it at customs. The story of how an attorney helped minimise the fine for breaching customs rules.
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Civil Law
A neighbour's dog scratched an elderly woman's leg during a morning walk — the story of how an animal owner is liable for damage under § 833 BGB, and why checking the evidence matters.
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Civil Law
A client received a 3,850-euro roaming bill after a holiday in Georgia — the story of how an attorney negotiated it down to just 800 euros.
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Civil Law
Oleg's business partner sought to recover 20,000 euros through Germany's Mahnverfahren procedure, and Oleg, constantly travelling for work, missed every deadline to object — a cautionary tale about ignoring letters from the court.
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Civil Law
An elderly pedestrian was hit by a driver at a crossing — the story of how an attorney secured full compensation for his injuries from the at-fault driver's insurer.
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Civil Law
During a viewing of a rental flat, a young man was bitten by the landlady's dog — the story of how an attorney secured full compensation without going to court.
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Civil Law
After a few drinks, our client climbed a lamppost and elbowed a police officer — the story of how an attorney got the claimed damages reduced tenfold.
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Civil Law
Two dogs got into a fight during a walk in the park — the story of how an attorney secured a fair split of liability and a reduced compensation amount.
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Civil Law
A business partner who was also a relative accused our client of coercion when signing a settlement agreement and sued for 30,000 euros three years later — the story of how an attorney proved the claim was groundless.
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Civil Law
For half a year a Berlin hotel could not get its door locks replaced — the story of how a well-drafted letter of claim pushed a contractor to deliver without going to court.
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Civil Law
A client bought a used car on eBay "without warranty," only to discover it had been through a serious accident — the story of how a disclaimer clause turned out to be invalid.
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Civil Law
A dissatisfied language-course student demanded the contract be cancelled and her full payment refunded — the story of how a carefully drafted AGB clause protected the language school’s interests.
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Civil Law
An equipment-supply contract between a German supplier and a Russian buyer hit a deadlock over gaps in the paperwork — the story of how a supplementary agreement and an escrow account saved a million-euro deal.
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Civil Law
An order form and general terms are not yet a contract: a case study on when a document fails to create legal obligations.
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Civil Law
A supplier faced its buyer's bankruptcy — but a retention-of-title clause allowed it to demand the goods back outside the ordinary creditors' queue.
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Civil Law
An equipment supplier kept delaying delivery for weeks — a lawyer's demand letter with a firm deadline finally moved things forward.
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Civil Law
A missing zero in an online price nearly cost an entrepreneur €27,000 — a case study on a mistaken offer under §§ 119 and 144 BGB.
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Family Law
Reuniting an adopted child with the family in Germany: a real case from our practice.
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Family Law
When adult adoption is possible in Germany, and how it affects citizenship.
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Family Law
A marital agreement challenged years later: a real case about changed circumstances.
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Family Law
Marital agreement vs. joint spousal will (Ehegattentestament): the difference, and when to choose which.
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Family Law
Drafting a tailored marital agreement: divorce timing, child maintenance, property division, and pensions.
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Family Law
Depriving a negligent father of his parental rights in Ukraine to protect the child’s interests: a real case from our practice.
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Family Law
A husband’s attempt to dodge his duty to advance his wife’s court costs, and how his cunning move swayed the court’s decision.
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Family Law
A father who made paternity conditional on the mother waiving child support — and lost in court once the case reached appeal.
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Family Law
A knee injury, an unrecognized engineering degree, and child support he could not afford: how the court brought the amount down to earth.
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Family Law
A father who fled to Germany and denied paternity was ordered by the court to pay child support to his son in Russia, backdated to his birth.
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Family Law
A husband signed a private payment agreement with his ex-wife and then stopped paying — how an appeal secured maintenance for two past and three future years.
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Family Law
Four real German court rulings on family-law disputes: a child’s bank account, spousal maintenance, a biological father’s rights, and the duty of parental contact.
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Family Law
A father brought his daughter to Germany while the mother secured a residence order for the child in Russia — the German court declined to hear his case.
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Family Law
An ex-wife demanded half the proceeds of a long-sold car and even reported it "stolen" to police — how a settlement ended the criminal case.
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Family Law
An ex-wife had a German house placed under attachment through a Sicherungshypothek — how a missed service deadline let our client lift it and sell the property.
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Family Law
Grandparents sold their Italian villa so their granddaughter and her husband could buy a house — a year later the marriage collapsed and he demanded half the gift.
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Family Law
A mother left her sleeping son at home to save her own mother from a heart attack — and faced § 171 StGB charges until our lawyer proved necessity.
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Family Law
The Familienkasse refused Kindergeld over a temporary work-based residence permit — how the Finance Court ruled that refusal unlawful.
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Family Law
How we challenged a Familienkasse refusal to pay Kindergeld to a foreign specialist invited by a German company.
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Family Law
How a young mother secured her Kindergeld payment despite a formal refusal caused by a delay in issuing her new residence permit.
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Family Law
Two real cases in which resettled families successfully changed their surname in Germany through the Standesamt.
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Family Law
How new parents managed to quickly change their newborn's just-registered given name through the Standesamt.
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Family Law
How we obtained a divorce in Germany for a client whose husband remained in Ukraine and could not leave the country.
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Family Law
How the court set the terms for a father’s contact with his children after separation, when the mother feared for their safety.
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Family Law
An overview of current German case law on spousal debts, maintenance, division of property, and wedding gifts.
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Family Law
How our lawyer proved the true date on which a couple began living apart in a contested divorce.
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Family Law
How our client proved the real date her separation began, despite a document she had earlier signed at the Ausländerbehörde.
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Family Law
How the court determined the real date on which a couple began living apart — and why the divorce petition was dismissed.
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Family Law
How the court, under an accelerated procedure, ordered the forced eviction of a husband who posed a genuine threat to his wife.
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Family Law
How we helped a single mother obtain her divorce in Germany and secure adequate maintenance for her daughter after relocating.
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Family Law
How a couple who married in Denmark mistakenly applied to a German Standesamt for recognition of their marriage — and how we sorted it out.
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Family Law
How to settle property division and child residence when divorcing in Germany — and still part on good terms with your former partner.
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Family Law
Why Germany and the UK recognize paternity under very different rules — and how that shaped the child maintenance claim in our client's case.
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Family Law
How Trennungsunterhalt — maintenance for the lower-earning spouse — is calculated during the year of separation before a German divorce.
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Family Law
Why a lawyer matters even in a fully amicable German divorce — a real case involving property division and a waiver of pension equalization.
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Family Law
How a single mother won the sole right to make decisions for her son after the father, living abroad, refused to cooperate even for the child's urgent medical treatment.
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Family Law
How a court restricted a father's contact with his sons after it emerged that he physically punished them and banned anything German at home.
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Family Law
How a father secured the return of his son, taken to Russia by his ex-wife without his consent, by invoking the Hague Convention on child abduction.
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Family Law
Can an alternating-residence arrangement (Wechselmodell) survive when one parent demands it be scrapped — a case from our practice.
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Family Law
How a biological father is fighting for the right to regular contact with his son, after the boy's mother suddenly cut off all contact between them.
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Family Law
Is a three-year-old ready for an alternating-residence arrangement (Wechselmodell) — a former couple's dispute from our practice.
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Family Law
How a mother secured the restoration of regular meetings with her son, and had the father's petition for a restraining order dismissed.
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Family Law
How a mother secured the end of an alternating-residence arrangement for her 5-year-old daughter after a medical assessment showed it was harming the child.
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Family Law
How a mother in Kazakhstan used the German courts and a DNA test to prove a man's paternity and recover child support back to her son's birth.
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Family Law
How a mother of three secured an expedited divorce and recognition of her new partner's paternity while her marriage was technically still intact.
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Family Law
How a Russian woman who became pregnant by her new partner before her divorce was finalized secured legal recognition of the child's biological father.
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Family Law
How a couple caught between conflicting Latvian and German law managed to correct their daughter's birth certificate to name her real, biological father.
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Family Law
When the mother's former colleague claimed the son as his own, the court had to decide what matters more — blood or years of fatherly care.
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Employment & Labor Law
Dismissed for "operational reasons" right after a serious illness: how the lawyer got the dismissal overturned.
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Employment & Labor Law
Daily "one-off" contracts used to disguise a permanent job: how a student won compensation for her dismissal.
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Employment & Labor Law
A verbal dismissal with no written notice: how to prove an unlawful dismissal before the labor court.
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Employment & Labor Law
An older employee, a role change, and a €10,000 settlement instead of reinstatement.
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Employment & Labor Law
Dismissed with no stated reason and no works council consultation: how reinstatement was won.
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Employment & Labor Law
Redundancy at a car factory: how a lawyer secured a 40,000-euro settlement for an electromechanic without going to court.
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Employment & Labor Law
First the employer unilaterally cut his pay, then dismissed him as an "inconvenient" employee — the court struck down both decisions.
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Employment & Labor Law
An employer unilaterally cut a cleaner’s hours and pay: how a lawyer recovered the shortfall without ever going to trial.
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Employment & Labor Law
Three real court rulings — intoxication at work, a locker theft, and a fight at the office party — on when dismissal without notice actually holds up.
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Employment & Labor Law
A fake résumé used to test for age discrimination, and a pregnant employee denied her Christmas bonus — two revealing cases from recent practice.
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Employment & Labor Law
A former employee demanded 180,000 euros in "unpaid wages" for years he hadn't actually worked — and ended up exposing himself with paperwork from his own divorce.
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Employment & Labor Law
A consultant sued to have his fixed-term contract declared permanent — and nearly won, all because of one missing sentence about the probation period.
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Employment & Labor Law
A company director informally arranged help from an old acquaintance — who later sued, demanding the relationship be recognized as employment.
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Employment & Labor Law
Court rulings on applicant discrimination, an employee's personal sphere, and proportionate discipline — real cases from German labor courts.
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Employment & Labor Law
A client with 17 years of service was dismissed when her employer's business went insolvent — the lawyer secured three months' damages in the labor court despite the insolvency administrator's silence.
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Employment & Labor Law
A couple faced aggravated fraud charges over undeclared construction earnings — the lawyer secured the case's closure for both spouses, with no conviction.
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Criminal Law
Parcel reshipping fraud under §263 StGB and Germany's Youth Courts Act (JGG): released straight from the courtroom, civil claim dismissed.
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Criminal Law
Extortion under §253 StGB and sextortion schemes: case closed under §170 StPO for lack of sufficient grounds.
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Criminal Law
Theft under §242 StGB and the question of criminal responsibility: a medical evaluation and a full acquittal.
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Criminal Law
Bodily harm under §223 StGB: how identifying the attacker from a photo led to an eight-month prison sentence.
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Criminal Law
Charged with arms trafficking under §52 WaffG: arrest, surveillance, and the case closed for lack of evidence.
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Criminal Law
Charged with bodily harm under §223 StGB after a scuffle with an electrician: case closed for lack of evidence.
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Criminal Law
Juvenile theft under §242 StGB: the Juvenile Courts Act (JGG) and a case discontinued under §45 JGG.
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Criminal Law
Shoplifting worth €3.50 under §242 StGB: the case was closed under §153 StPO for minor significance.
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Criminal Law
Fraud with a forged payment order: goods shipped without payment and two parallel claims being prepared.
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Criminal Law
A false accusation under §86a StGB for displaying Nazi symbols: acquittal and reimbursement of legal costs.
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Criminal Law
A counter-accusation of defamation under §186 StGB after a rape case was closed: the defamation case was closed under §170 StPO.
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Criminal Law
A marijuana plantation under §29 BtMG: the charge was requalified to aiding, resulting in a €1,700 fine and no criminal record.
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Criminal Law
A romance scam involving bitcoin: a student unknowingly became a "money mule" — a petition to close the case is now pending.
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Criminal Law
Shoplifting toy Transformers under §242 StGB: a teenager's case closed under §45 JGG.
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Criminal Law
Shoplifting €110 worth of clothing under §242 StGB: case closed with no fine imposed.
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Criminal Law
Stealing €29 worth of clothing under §242 StGB: case closed under §153a StPO with a €50 fine.
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Criminal Law
Drug dealing under §29 BtMG with aggravating circumstances: two years’ imprisonment, suspended.
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Criminal Law
A neighbor's copyright infringement complaint under Art. 106 UrhG: case closed under §170 StPO.
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Criminal Law
A §263 StGB social benefits fraud charge over a €300 overpayment: case closed.
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Criminal Law
Burglary theft under §243 StGB: how the presumption of innocence led to a full acquittal.
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Criminal Law
Theft under §242 StGB and the Juvenile Courts Act (JGG): the case was closed under §45 JGG, and the residence permit was preserved.
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Criminal Law
A travel agency's forged Schengen visa: charged under §267 StGB and §95 AufenthG — case closed, no entry ban imposed.
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Criminal Law
An in-absentia conviction for supermarket theft under §242 StGB: proving the absence of intent and getting the case closed under §153 StPO.
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Criminal Law
Assaulted by a subway ticket inspector and charged with fare evasion: the case was closed, and a counter-charge is being prepared.
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Criminal Law
An ex-partner reported her for aiding fraud under §263 and §27 StGB — the case was closed for lack of evidence.
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Criminal Law
Charged with theft with intent to resell under §243 StGB — requalified to §242 StGB and closed with a fine.
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Criminal Law
Parcel fraud run through a fake “Moscow company”: reclassified from §263 to §261 StGB and the case fully discontinued.
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Criminal Law
An acid attack on a hotel amid a feud between its owners: charges under §224, §229 and §303 StGB, resolved with a fine instead of a suspended sentence.
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Criminal Law
A tourist detained on an international warrant over eBay fraud committed using her stolen bank details — her innocence proven.
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Criminal Law
Charged with violating a court restraining order under §4 GewSchG: the case discontinued for lack of sufficient evidence.
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Criminal Law
A €90 shop theft and a €1,200 Strafbefehl: an objection got the case discontinued under §153a StPO and the fine reduced to €400.
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Criminal Law
Theft under §242–§252 StGB: elements of the offense, aggravating circumstances, and the role of intent in the defense.
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Criminal Law
Bodily harm under §223, §224 and §226 StGB: elements of the offense, penalties, and the limits of self-defense.
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Criminal Law
What German law treats as an insult to a person, and the penalty provided for under §185 StGB.
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Criminal Law
The elements of §266 StGB (Untreue): abuse of a position of trust, business risk, and the line into criminal liability.
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Criminal Law
A neighbor dispute and charges under §223 StGB: when a careless gesture turns into a criminal case.
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Criminal Law
Document forgery under §267 StGB and driving without a license under §21 StVG: how to avoid a criminal record.
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Family Law
What sets an uncontested divorce apart from a contested one, which documents you need and what costs you should realistically expect.
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Case Study
How we successfully defended a client against an unjustified unfair-dismissal claim, including the key lessons for comparable cases.
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Legal Insights
A recent court ruling is changing practice in immigration law. We explain the background and what those affected should now consider.
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Video & Practice
In this video we show step by step how court representation proceeds, from preparing for the hearing through to the oral proceedings.
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Guide
What to bear in mind legally during a house search and how early criminal defence effectively protects your rights.
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