Judicial measures for protection against violence and stalking - apply for an order
Are you a victim of violence (including domestic violence) or stalking?
You can apply for civil court orders to protect yourself from the perpetrator.
The court can prohibit the perpetrator from doing the following in particular:
- to enter the victim's home
- to stay within a radius of the victim's home determined by the court
- to stay in places where the victim regularly spends time (e.g. the victim's workplace, the victim's children's kindergarten or school, leisure facilities, relatives' homes)
- Contact the victim (including by telephone, letter, email, social media)
- bring about a meeting with the victim
If an accidental or induced meeting occurs, the perpetrator must leave immediately.
Depending on the individual case, the court may issue further protection orders make.
Responsible authority
at the choice of the person making the application:
- the local court (family court) in whose district the offence occurred,
- the local court (family court) in whose district the joint residence of the applicant and the perpetrator is located, or
- the local court (family court) in whose district the perpetrator usually resides
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
Protection orders can be considered if the perpetrator
- has intentionally violated the body, health, freedom or sexual self-determination of the victim (e.g. by using violence),
- has unlawfully threatened to do so,
- has and intentionally entered the victim's home or property, or
- unlawfully and wilfully harassed the victim unreasonably by repeatedly stalking them against their express will or by following them by means of long-distance communication (e.g. telephone, text message) .
It does not matter whether the parties involved know each other or not. An application can also be considered if the parties involved are married or live in the same household.
Procedure
You must apply to the family court for protection orders.
You can submit the application
- by written application or
- orally for the record at the registry of a local court.
You can also use sample wording to help you.
Sample forms for applications for protection can be found, for example, on the website of the Berlin Initiative against Violence against Women - BIG e.V.
An oral hearing is usually held before a judge.
The court hears the arguments of each party and decides on the application.
The court sets a specific duration for all orders.
An extension is possible at the request of the victim.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
none
Costs
As a rule, there are no court costs for the victim in the first instance.
However, the court can impose costs. For example, if your application had no prospect of success from the outset and you had to recognise this.
If you pursue compulsory enforcement to enforce the protective order, you may incur costs if these cannot be collected from the opposing party or the defendant.
However, you can also apply for legal aid for individual enforcement measures if necessary.
Miscellaneous
The nationwide help hotline "Violence against women" offers free advice from qualified counsellors around the clock on 08000-116 016 and on the website.
As a victim of criminal offences involving the use or threat of violence or stalking, you can contact the Weißer Ring e.V. (White Ring Association). The employees of this organisation
- advise victims of crime,
- help you deal with the authorities (including the court) and
- accompany you to court hearings on request.
Legal basis
Gesetz zum zivilrechtlichen Schutz vor Gewalttaten und Nachstellungen - Gewaltschutzgesetz (GewSchG)
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg, 21.03.2025