Legal Glossary
Your comprehensive reference for legal terminology and concepts
A
Arbitration Proceedings
A private dispute resolution procedure in which the parties appoint an arbitrator instead of state courts to render a decision.
Authorized Signatory (Prokurist)
A person appointed by a merchant or commercial company who is authorized to represent the company in business dealings.
Avoidance
The legal assertion of a defect of will, resulting in a declaration of intent or contract being void from the outset.
B
BGB (Civil Code)
The Civil Code is the central law of German private law and regulates the most important civil law relationships.
BRAO (Federal Lawyers' Act)
The central law regulating the professional activities of lawyers in Germany.
Burden of Proof
The legal allocation of the duty to prove a certain fact in order to derive favorable legal consequences.
C
Client
A natural or legal person who engages a lawyer or law firm to represent their legal interests.
Competition Law (Wettbewerbsrecht)
The area of law that protects fair competition between businesses and prohibits unfair commercial practices.
Contract
An agreement between two or more parties that establishes contractual obligations and rights.
Contract for Work and Services
A contract by which the contractor undertakes to produce a promised work and the client undertakes to pay the remuneration.
Court Costs
The fees and expenses charged for the use of court services.
Criminal Complaint
The reporting of facts to law enforcement authorities with the aim of initiating criminal investigation proceedings.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
A lawyer who represents and defends a suspect or accused person in criminal proceedings both in and out of court.
D
E
G
I
Inheritance
The transfer of a deceased person's assets to the heir or heirs in accordance with inheritance law.
Insolvency
A court procedure aimed at jointly satisfying all creditors of an insolvent or over-indebted debtor.
Interim Order (Injunction)
A provisional court decision made to avert imminent irreparable damage until a decision on the merits is reached.
J
L
Land Register (Grundbuch)
A public register maintained by the district courts documenting the legal relationships pertaining to real estate.
Lawsuit
An application to a court to decide a legal dispute by judgment. Filing a lawsuit initiates court proceedings.
Lawyer
An independent organ of the administration of justice who provides professional legal advice and representation in legal matters.
Legal Fees
The remuneration that a lawyer receives for their services, usually referred to as fees.
Legal Remedy
A formal legal remedy through which a party can obtain review of a court decision by a higher court.
Liability
The legal obligation to answer for damage that has occurred and to compensate for it.
Limited Liability Company (GmbH)
A commercial company with its own legal personality where the liability of shareholders is limited to their capital contributions.
M
Maintenance (Alimony)
The legal obligation to financially secure the living needs of a person entitled to maintenance.
Managing Director
The legal representative of a GmbH who manages its business and represents the company in and out of court.
Mediation
A structured, voluntary procedure for the constructive resolution of conflicts with the support of a neutral third party, the mediator.
N
P
Parental Custody
The right and duty to care for the person and property of a minor child.
Penalty Order
A written order by a judge upon application by the public prosecutor imposing a penalty without a main hearing.
Pledge (Lien)
A proprietary security right in a thing or right that enables the creditor to obtain satisfaction from the pledged object.
Previous Conviction
A final conviction by a criminal court that is entered in the Federal Central Register.
Protection Against Dismissal
The statutory protection of employees against socially unjustified dismissals by the employer.
Purchase Agreement
A contract by which the seller undertakes to transfer ownership of the purchased item and the buyer undertakes to pay the purchase price.
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S
Statute of Limitations
The legal consequence that a claim can no longer be enforced after expiration of a legally determined period.
Stock Corporation (AG)
A commercial company with its own legal personality whose share capital is divided into shares and whose shareholders are not personally liable.
StPO (Code of Criminal Procedure)
The Code of Criminal Procedure regulates proceedings in criminal matters from the initiation of investigations to the final conclusion.