Court Costs Calculator 2026 — Lawyer + Court Fees (RVG/GKG) Germany
Litigation cost risk in Germany by amount in dispute and instance: court fees (GKG) plus two lawyers (RVG), with your costs if you win, lose or split 50/50.
Details
Total Litigation Costs
€5,613.50
Court + 2 Lawyers (1st Instance)
If You Win (full success)
€0.00
Opponent bears all costs
If You Lose (full defeat)
€5,613.50
You bear all costs
Cost Breakdown
Note: Simplified calculation. As of: 2026.
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
What are the total costs of a lawsuit?
Total litigation costs include court fees, your own attorney fees, and potentially the opposing party's attorney fees if you lose. For a dispute value of 10,000 euros, the first instance comes to about 4,800 euros (court 849 euros plus two lawyers at 1,963.50 euros each); with experts or an appeal, considerably more.
Does legal expense insurance cover all litigation costs?
Legal expense insurance typically covers court fees, your attorney, and expert fees. Most policies exclude certain areas like family law or construction disputes. Check your policy for coverage gaps and waiting periods.
Does winning a lawsuit really cost me nothing?
The calculator shows 0 euros for a full win because the losing party must reimburse the court costs and your statutory lawyer fees (§ 91 ZPO). You still have to pay up front: as a rule, the claim is only served once the court fee advance has been paid, and your lawyer bills you. If the opponent is insolvent, you are left with these costs. In first-instance labour court proceedings, each side pays its own lawyer anyway (§ 12a ArbGG).
Guide
What is the Court Costs Calculator 2026 — Lawyer + Court Fees (RVG/GKG) Germany?
The litigation costs calculator computes the total cost of court proceedings: own and opposing attorney fees plus court fees.
How does the Court Costs Calculator 2026 — Lawyer + Court Fees (RVG/GKG) Germany work?
Enter the amount in dispute. The calculator adds court fees (GKG) and attorney fees for both parties (RVG). If you lose, you bear all costs. The calculator shows the cost risk for both scenarios (win/loss).
Key Data and Facts
Cost risk = own attorney fees + opposing attorney fees + court fees. Legal expenses insurance covers most litigation costs. Legal aid for those in need.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to calculate the total litigation costs step by step: 1. Enter the amount in dispute: The sum that is being litigated over. 2. Calculate the court costs: Threefold fee according to the GKG fee table (first instance, civil proceedings). 3. Calculate your own lawyer's fees: Procedural fee (1.3-fold) + hearing fee (1.2-fold) + flat-rate expenses (EUR 20) + 19 % VAT. 4. Opposing party's lawyer's fees: The same calculation as your own lawyer's fees. 5. Total risk if you lose: Your own lawyer's fees + the opposing party's lawyer's fees + court costs. 6. Total costs if you win: Only your own lawyer's fees as an advance payment, reimbursed by the opposing party. 7. Scenario analysis: Compare the cost risk with the amount in dispute. Rule of thumb (first instance with a hearing, two lawyers): the cost risk is about 70 % of the amount in dispute at EUR 2,000, just under 48 % at EUR 10,000 and about 32 % at EUR 20,000. The higher the amount in dispute, the lower the percentage share. 8. Legal expenses insurance: As a rule it covers lawyer's and court costs (possibly with a deductible).
Calculation Example
Amount in dispute 20,000 EUR (fee bracket up to 22,000 EUR, tables since 1 June 2025). Court costs (triple): 3 x 405 = 1,215 EUR. Own lawyer's fees: (1.3 + 1.2) x 872 + 20 = 2,200 EUR net, 2,618 EUR with 19 % VAT. Opposing lawyer's fees: 2,618 EUR. Cost risk if you lose: 6,451 EUR (about 32 % of the amount in dispute).
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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