Court orders for protection against violence and stalking – requesting the handover of the property
If someone you live with in a flat threatens or harms you, the family court may grant you temporary sole use of the flat under the Protection Against Violence Act.
This means that you – along with your children, if applicable – will be able to use the flat on your own from now on, and your partner must leave the flat.
This applies even if you are not the owner or tenant of the flat.
You may only use the flat on a permanent basis if you own it or are the sole tenant.
Please note: If you are married to the abusive person or live in a registered civil partnership, you may, under certain conditions, have further rights to the use of the flat.
Seek advice from a solicitor on this matter.
Responsible authority
at the applicant’s discretion:
- the family court in whose jurisdiction the offence took place,
- the family court in whose jurisdiction the applicant and the perpetrator share a home, or
- the family court in whose jurisdiction the perpetrator usually resides
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
- At the time of the offence, you were living in a permanent shared household with the perpetrator. You do not need to be the owner of the property yourself or be named on the tenancy agreement.
- The abusive person has intentionally and unlawfully caused harm to your body, your health, your freedom or your sexual autonomy.
If the perpetrator has so far only threatened you, stricter conditions apply.
The property may then only be made available if it is absolutely necessary to avoid undue hardship.
This may also be the case if the welfare of children living in the household is at risk.
Procedure
You must request that the violent person vacate the property in writing.
If you wish to seek a court order for the handover of the home under the Protection Against Violence Act, you may
- submit the application yourself in writing or orally for the record at the registry of a family court, or
- be represented by a solicitor.
Deadlines
You can also submit an application for the provision of accommodation under the Protection Against Violence Act at a later date following the incident. However, there is a three-month time limit.
Under the Protection Against Violence Act, you are therefore only entitled to have the flat vacated if you request this in writing from the perpetrator within three months of the violent incident.
Once this time limit has expired, your entitlement to have the flat vacated lapses.
Required documents
depending on the individual case
Costs
As a rule: none
The court may order you to pay the costs if your application had no prospect of success from the outset and you should have realised this.
If, despite a court order in your favour, the violent person does not leave voluntarily and you wish to have the court order enforced, you may incur costs if the other person is unable to pay them.
Miscellaneous
The nationwide helpline ‘Violence against Women’ offers round-the-clock, free advice from qualified counsellors via the telephone number 08000-116 016 and on its website.
You should also check whether further protection orders, such as contact bans or restraining orders, are necessary. It is often advisable to ensure that the perpetrator is no longer allowed to enter the home (restraining order).
If there are children living in your household, the court will take this into account in its decision and will also consult the Youth Welfare Office.
The court will inform the Youth Welfare Office of the decision made so that the office can advise and support you, for example, regarding the exercise of access rights.
You can apply for legal aid for individual enforcement measures.
Detailed information
Hinweis: Für eventuell anfallende Anwalts- und Gerichtskosten können Sie unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen wie hinreichende Erfolgsaussicht und Bedürftigkeit Verfahrenskostenhilfe beantragen.
Hat die Polizei bereits einen Platzverweis gegen die gewalttätige Person ausgesprochen, können Sie diese Zeit nutzen, um eine Entscheidung des zuständigen Gerichts herbeizuführen.
- Verfahrenskostenhilfe beantragen - Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg
- Broschüre "Schutz vor häuslicher Gewalt" mit Informationen zum Gewaltschutzgesetz (PDF) - Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg
- Ausführliche Informationen zum Gewaltschutzgesetz und Hinweise auf Beratungsangebote
enthält die Broschüre "Mehr Schutz bei häuslicher Gewalt" (PDF) des Bundesministeriums für Familien, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend.
Legal basis
Gesetz zum zivilrechtlichen Schutz vor Gewalttaten und Nachstellungen – Gewaltschutzgesetz (GewSchG):
- § 2 Überlassung einer gemeinsam genutzten Wohnung
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB):
- § 1361b Ehewohnung bei Getrenntleben
Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz (LPartG):
- § 14 Wohnungszuweisung bei Getrenntleben
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg, 29.09.2026