A Strafbefehl gives you only 2 weeks to object

Accused in Germany? Say nothing — call a lawyer first.

A police letter, a summons, a house search, a Strafbefehl in the mailbox — what you do in the first days matters more than most people realize.

  • You have the right to remain silent — use it until a lawyer has seen the file
  • A Strafbefehl (penal order) becomes final after 2 weeks — objecting in time keeps every option open
  • Early defense, with file access (Akteneinsicht), often ends proceedings before they reach court
Get help now → Check my deadline

Confidential · Reply within 24h — usually sooner · First consultation free

Get matched with a lawyer

Free & confidential · Reply within 24h — usually sooner · First consultation free

How urgent is it?
The date the letter reached you — that is what the deadline runs from.
Often covers the lawyer's fees in full — worth checking your policy, or a partner's.
Natürlich können Sie uns auch auf Deutsch schreiben.
PDF, photo, or Word — max 10 MB. A photo of the letter is perfect.

By submitting you agree to be contacted about your request as described in our Privacy Policy.

What we help with

Some of the situations people come to us with. Yours doesn't have to be on the list.

• A police letter or summons (Vorladung) as a suspect

• A penal order (Strafbefehl) with a two-week objection deadline

• House searches (Durchsuchung) and seized devices

• Accusations of assault, theft, fraud or property damage

• Drug-related accusations

• Getting access to the file (Akteneinsicht) before saying anything

• A friend or family member taken into custody

• Proceedings that could affect your residence status

Read this first

You Received a Strafbefehl — You Have 14 Days

What a penalty order is, why paying it is rarely the cheap option, how Tagessätze work, and why you should say nothing until someone has read the file.

8 min read

Hit a Parked Car in Germany? Why a Note Is Not Enough

Why a note does not discharge the duty, how long to wait, the risk to the licence rather than the wallet, and the 24-hour rule that can undo it.

9 min read

Common questions

As a suspect (Beschuldigter), generally you are not obliged to attend police questioning or make any statement. Politely decline in writing and talk to a lawyer first — this is standard, not suspicious.

A written penalty issued without trial. If you don't object within two weeks of delivery, it becomes final like a conviction. Objecting preserves your rights — a lawyer can then see the file and advise.

Criminal proceedings can matter for residence and citizenship — one more reason to defend properly from the start. Mention your status situation in the first consultation.

General information, not legal advice — your lawyer assesses your specific case in the free first consultation.

Related areas

Legal problems rarely arrive alone — a job loss can put a residence permit at risk, a divorce can raise housing questions.

Victim of a crime →
Immigration & residence →
Employment & termination →

Something else entirely? See everything we help with — whatever it is, you get an English-speaking German lawyer.