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Apply for Beratungshilfe at the Amtsgericht

The cheapest way to get legal advice from a lawyer — and the least used

AmtsgerichtBerHG€15 personal contribution

Beratungshilfe (advisory assistance for people on low incomes) covers out-of-court legal advice and representation for people on a low income. It is thus the counterpart to Prozesskostenhilfe (legal aid for court proceedings), which only applies once court proceedings begin. The competent court is the Amtsgericht in whose district you live — not the court before which a matter would later be heard.

The personal contribution is the lowest in the entire legal system: under Nr. 2500 VV RVG, the person seeking advice pays the lawyer €15.00. And the provision expressly adds: “The fee may be waived.” Anyone who cannot even raise this €15 can ask the lawyer to waive it — this is provided for in the law and is not a favour.

There are two ways to get there. Either you apply to the Amtsgericht in advance for a Berechtigungsschein (certificate of entitlement) and then approach a lawyer with it. Or you go to the lawyer first and submit the application afterwards — you then have four weeks to do so. The first route is safer, because you know the assistance has been granted; the second is faster if it is urgent.

Last updated28 August 2026
Legal basisBerHG · Nr. 2500 VV RVG
VerificationNr. 2500 VV RVG in full
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Amtsgericht, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. No legal advice and not an official authority. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Personal contribution€15.00Nr. 2500 VV RVG — waiver possible
Competent bodyAmtsgericht at your place of residenceNot the court hearing the case
Subsequent applicationFour weeksAfter the first consultation
Required documents

What you need

Proof of income

Pay slips, pension or benefit notices from the last few months. Anyone receiving Bürgergeld (citizen's benefit) or basic income support submits the notice — this is the simplest proof of the financial requirements.

Proof of housing costs

The tenancy agreement and the current utility bill statement. Housing costs are deducted from income and often determine whether the requirements are met.

Information on assets and obligations

Account balances, savings and any ongoing loans or maintenance obligations. Existing assets must be used, as far as this is reasonable; protected assets (Schonvermögen) are disregarded.

Documents relating to the matter itself

The contract, notice or letter in question. The court checks whether the pursuit of the matter is not frivolous — for this, it needs to know what it is about. And the lawyer cannot advise without the documents anyway.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Check whether another option would already suffice

    Beratungshilfe is subsidiary: it is not granted if other reasonable options are available — for example legal expenses insurance, membership of a tenants' association or trade union, or free advice from the competent authority itself. Check this first; the court will ask about it.

  2. 2

    Submit the application to the Amtsgericht at your place of residence

    In writing using the official form, or orally, to be taken down in writing at the Rechtsantragstelle (legal application office). The oral route is underrated: staff there help you fill in the form, and many applications otherwise fail because of formal errors.

  3. 3

    Receive the Berechtigungsschein and consult a lawyer

    With the certificate, you approach a lawyer of your choice. There is in principle an obligation to take the case on, but not every lawyer handles every area of law — when booking an appointment, ask about their area of specialisation.

  4. 4

    Alternatively: go to the lawyer first, then apply

    If it is urgent, you can approach the lawyer immediately and submit the application within four weeks afterwards. The risk is yours: if the court refuses, you owe the standard fee. Discuss this explicitly beforehand.

  5. 5

    Pay the personal contribution — or ask for it to be waived

    You pay the €15.00 directly to the lawyer. Nr. 2500 VV RVG expressly provides that the fee may be waived; anyone who cannot raise it should ask for this. The Treasury bears all further costs.

Fee information

Costs and payment

What you payNr. 2500 VV RVG
Personal contribution to the lawyer€15.00
Waiver of the feeExpressly possible
Application to the AmtsgerichtNo fee
Remaining lawyer's remunerationTreasury
Without Beratungshilfe: initial consultationAt most €190 (§ 34 RVG)

Beratungshilfe covers only out-of-court advice and representation. If court proceedings follow, Prozesskostenhilfe must be applied for separately. The waiver of the €15 is expressly provided for in the fee schedule (Vergütungsverzeichnis).

Good to know

Important notes

The personal contribution is €15.00 — and Nr. 2500 VV RVG expressly provides that it may be waived. Ask about this if you cannot raise it.

The competent court is the Amtsgericht at your place of residence, not the court dealing with the matter itself. An application to the wrong court is passed on and costs time.

Beratungshilfe is subsidiary. Legal expenses insurance, a tenants' association, a trade union or free advice from the competent authority take precedence — the court will ask about this.

It covers only out-of-court activity. For court proceedings, Prozesskostenhilfe must be applied for separately; the granting of one says nothing about the other.

The subsequent application is possible within four weeks. If it is refused, you owe the standard fee — clarify this risk with the lawyer before the consultation.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Submitting the application to the court dealing with the matter. The competent court is the Amtsgericht at your own place of residence.

Concealing legal expenses insurance. Beratungshilfe is subsidiary; if insurance cover exists, it will not be granted.

Forgoing the waiver of the €15 out of embarrassment. The fee schedule expressly provides for it.

Assuming that Beratungshilfe also covers the court proceedings. It ends at the out-of-court stage; Prozesskostenhilfe is needed for the proceedings themselves.

Going to the lawyer without any documents. Without a contract, notice or letter, the advice stays general — and the Berechtigungsschein is used up.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What does Beratungshilfe cost me?

Under Nr. 2500 VV RVG, you pay €15.00 to the lawyer. The provision expressly adds that the fee may be waived — anyone who cannot raise even this amount should ask for this. The Treasury bears the remaining remuneration; the application to the Amtsgericht itself is free of charge.

Where do I submit the application?

At the Amtsgericht in whose district you live — not at the court before which the matter would be heard. You can apply in writing using the official form, or orally, to be taken down in writing at the Rechtsantragstelle; staff there help you fill it in.

Can I go to the lawyer first?

Yes. You can approach the lawyer directly and submit the application within four weeks afterwards. This makes sense if it is urgent, but carries a risk: if the court refuses Beratungshilfe, you owe the standard fee. Raise this before the consultation.

When is Beratungshilfe refused?

If the financial requirements are not met, if other reasonable options are available — legal expenses insurance, a tenants' association, a trade union or free information from the competent authority — or if pursuing the matter appears frivolous. Subsidiarity is the most common reason for refusal.

Does Beratungshilfe also cover court proceedings?

No. It covers out-of-court advice and representation. If proceedings follow, Prozesskostenhilfe must be applied for separately, with its own requirements — in particular sufficient prospects of success, which are not examined in this way for Beratungshilfe.

Can I choose the lawyer freely?

Yes. With the Berechtigungsschein, you approach a lawyer of your choice. There is in principle an obligation to take the case on, but not every firm handles every area of law — ask about their area of specialisation when booking the appointment, which saves a second visit.

Related official procedures

Prozesskostenhilfe (legal aid)
Three requirements, not one
Depends on income
Legal custodianship
Only if necessary — power of attorney takes precedence
Dependent on assets
Request to open insolvency proceedings
Discharge of residual debt after three years
Deferment possible

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