German deadlines are short — and they don't forgive

How long do you have?

Three weeks to challenge a termination. Two to object to a penalty order. Miss the date and the decision usually stands, however unfair it was. Pick your situation and we'll do the calendar maths — free, no sign-up.

The day it actually arrived — not the date printed on the letter.

This is general information and calendar arithmetic, not legal advice. Periods can start on a different date, run longer, or not apply at all depending on your circumstances. Only a lawyer who has seen your documents can tell you what applies.

The deadlines that catch people out

Germany runs on written notice and short windows. These are the ones we see missed most.

Situation You normally have Basis
I was given notice / fired (Kündigung) 3 weeks § 4 Kündigungsschutzgesetz
An immigration authority rejected something (Ausländerbehörde) 1 month §§ 70, 74 Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung
A benefits office decided against me (Jobcenter, Krankenkasse) 1 month § 84 Sozialgerichtsgesetz
My landlord wants me to agree to a rent increase until the end of the 2nd calendar month after receipt § 558b BGB
I got a service-charge bill (Betriebskostenabrechnung) 12 months § 556 III BGB
I received a penalty order (Strafbefehl) 2 weeks § 410 Strafprozessordnung
I received a traffic fine (Bußgeldbescheid) 2 weeks § 67 Ordnungswidrigkeitengesetz
I want out of a contract I recently signed 14 days § 355 BGB
I was the victim of a crime 3 months § 77b Strafgesetzbuch

Periods run from when a document reached you, not the date on it. Where the last day falls on a weekend or public holiday it moves to the next working day (§ 193 BGB).

Common questions

No — German deadlines generally run from when the document reached you (Zugang), not the date it was written or posted. A letter dropped in your postbox counts as received that day, even if you were away and read it later. If you cannot prove when it arrived, assume the earlier date.

It moves to the next working day (§ 193 BGB). This checker already applies that for weekends and the nine nationwide public holidays. Some states have additional holidays that could push it further, so we deliberately show the earlier date — never plan around the final day.

Yes, speak to someone. A missed deadline can sometimes be reopened where you were genuinely prevented from acting in time (§ 5 KSchG), and where an official decision failed to tell you how to appeal, the window is usually a year rather than a month (§ 58 VwGO). These are narrow routes and they close, so the sooner it is looked at the better.

No. This is a general statement of well-known statutory periods plus calendar arithmetic. It does not assess your case, your documents or your prospects, and periods can start elsewhere, run longer, or not apply at all. Only an admitted lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) who has seen your papers can tell you what actually applies — the first consultation through Klarlaw is free.

The first consultation is free. If paid work follows, the lawyer gives you a clear quote first — nothing starts without you agreeing to it.