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
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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
Accused of a Crime in Germany? What Happens After a Police Report
How a case starts, what to do first, the ways an investigation ends, daily-rate fines, the criminal record, residence and citizenship, and who pays.
8 min read
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
Criminal Record Certificate in Germany (Führungszeugnis): What It Shows
Getting a Führungszeugnis online, in person or from abroad, which one you need, what it leaves out, when you may say you have no record, deletion periods, foreign convictions and residence permits.
8 min read
Caught Shoplifting in Germany: What Happens Next
What store staff may do, what counts as theft (self-checkout mistakes included), the police letter, how cases end, the store's money demand, store bans, and your record and permit.
7 min read
Caught Without a Ticket in Germany: The €60 Fee and the Criminal Complaint
The increased fare on buses, trams and trains, the €7 rule, when Schwarzfahren is a criminal offence, the ticket check, the criminal case, and your record and permit.
6 min read
Police Letter in Germany? Your Rights as a Suspect (Vorladung)
Suspect or witness, why you need not go to a police interview, the right to stay silent and to a lawyer, reading the file, interpreters and court-appointed counsel.
7 min read
Self-Defence in Germany (Notwehr): What the Law Allows
The present, unlawful attack, only the force it takes, defending others, panic, necessity, holding someone for the police, and what you may carry.
7 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
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.
Something else entirely? See everything we help with — request an English-speaking German lawyer for your legal issue.