The Amtsgericht, literally translated as “District Court” in English, is the first level of the ordinary judiciary system in Germany. It handles a variety of legal matters, ranging from civil to criminal cases.
What is “Amtsgericht”?
The Amtsgericht is responsible for most civil and criminal judicial matters in its jurisdiction. It acts as the court of first instance for civil cases with a value up to €5,000 and for criminal cases where the expected sentence does not exceed four years of imprisonment[1]. It also manages public registers such as the companies’, associations’, cooperatives’, and land ownership registers. In Germany, there are 640 Amtsgerichte, each covering a small number of towns or municipalities[1].
More information about “Amtsgericht”
In criminal cases, the Amtsgericht may be presided over by one professional judge or a combination of professional and lay judges, depending on the expected sentence. The term can also refer to the building where the court proceedings take place. The next higher level of ordinary jurisdiction above the Amtsgericht is the Landgericht[1].
Related to “Amtsgericht”
Here are some additional terms that are related to Amtsgericht:
- Landgericht: A regional court that serves as the court of first instance for more serious cases and as an appellate court for decisions from the Amtsgericht[5].
- Rechtspfleger: Judicial officers who are not lawyers but have the authority to exercise judicial discretion in certain matters, such as family and land registry issues[3].
- Berufsrichter: Professional judges who serve at various levels of the court system, including the Amtsgericht[8].
Understanding the role of the Amtsgericht is crucial for navigating the German legal system, especially for those new to Berlin who may encounter legal matters requiring its services.