Deadline Calculator BGB — End of Legal Deadlines Germany
Calculate German legal deadlines per BGB §§ 187, 188: days, weeks, months, years – with the shift under § 193 BGB for weekends and nationwide public holidays.
Deadline Calculation
Note: These calculations are for informational purposes only and do not replace professional tax or financial advice. All information without guarantee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How are legal deadlines calculated in Germany?
Legal deadlines follow Sections 186-193 BGB. The day of the triggering event is not counted. Deadlines in months end on the corresponding date of the target month. If it falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day. Exceptions: the regular limitation period only starts at the end of the year (§ 199 (1) BGB), and according to the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) notice periods for termination are not extended under § 193 BGB.
What happens if I miss a legal deadline?
Missing a legal deadline can result in loss of rights (e.g., statute of limitations), procedural disadvantages, or default. In some cases, reinstatement (Wiedereinsetzung) is possible if the delay was unavoidable.
Does the calculator take my federal state's holidays into account?
No, the calculator only moves the end of a deadline for Saturdays, Sundays and nationwide public holidays (§ 193 BGB). If the deadline ends on a holiday that applies only in some states – such as Corpus Christi, Reformation Day or All Saints' Day – check it yourself: what matters is the place where the declaration must be made or the performance rendered, and for court deadlines the seat of the court. Example: a two-week deadline from Thursday, 21.05.2026, ends on Thursday, 04.06.2026 according to the calculator; in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria that is Corpus Christi, so there the deadline only expires on Friday, 05.06.2026.
Guide
What is the Deadline Calculator BGB — End of Legal Deadlines Germany?
The deadline calculator computes legal deadlines according to the rules of the German Civil Code (Sections 186-193), including weekends and public holidays.
How does the Deadline Calculator BGB — End of Legal Deadlines Germany work?
Enter the day of the triggering event (e.g. service of a notice), the type of period (days, weeks, months, years) and its length. The calculator computes the end of the period under Sections 187 and 188 BGB (the event day is not counted) and, under Section 193 BGB, moves it to the next working day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or nationwide public holiday. Holidays that apply only in individual federal states are not taken into account.
Key Data and Facts
Deadline start: day after the event. Weekly deadline: ends on the same weekday as the event. Monthly deadline: ends on the same calendar day of the target month (if that day does not exist, on the last day of the month). If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or nationwide public holiday, the next working day applies.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to calculate legal deadlines step by step: 1. Define the event that triggers the deadline: this is, for example, the receipt of a notice or the day a contract is concluded. 2. Determine the start of the deadline: under Section 187 (1) BGB the day of the event is not counted, the deadline begins on the following day. Example: the notice is received on 10 March, the deadline begins on 11 March. 3. Enter the duration of the deadline: days, weeks, months or years. 4. Calculate the end of the deadline (Section 188 BGB): deadline in days: it ends when its last day expires. Deadline in weeks: it ends on the weekday whose name corresponds to the day of the event – event on a Thursday, deadline ends on a Thursday. Deadline in months: it ends on the day of the target month whose number corresponds to the event day; if that day does not exist, the deadline ends on the last day of the month. 5. Check weekends and public holidays: if the deadline ends on a Saturday, Sunday or statutory public holiday, the end is moved to the next working day (Section 193 BGB). The calculator only takes nationwide public holidays into account; if an additional state holiday applies at the place where the declaration is to be made or the performance rendered (for court deadlines: the seat of the court), check it yourself. 6. Mind the limits: the regular limitation period (3 years, Section 195 BGB) only begins at the end of the year in which the claim arose and the creditor learned of it (Section 199 (1) BGB) – a claim from 15.03.2026 is therefore time-barred at the end of 31.12.2029, not on 15.03.2029. According to the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Section 193 BGB does not apply to notice periods: if the last day for a notice of termination to be received falls on a weekend or public holiday, it is not moved. The calculator does not count periods in working days.
Calculation Example
Service on Thursday, 12.03.2026, period 1 month: the period begins on 13.03.2026, the calculated end is Sunday, 12.04.2026 – moved under Section 193 BGB to Monday, 13.04.2026. Weekly period: event on Saturday, 26.09.2026, period 2 weeks: calculated end Saturday, 10.10.2026 (same weekday as the event), moved to Monday, 12.10.2026.
Sources
Official sources
Calculations are based on applicable German laws and official data:
- Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB)
- Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz (RVG)
- Bundesministerium der Finanzen (BMF)
Full methodology at Methodology.
Reviewed by Konstantin Iakovlev · Last updated:
Law
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