A legal dispute quickly costs several thousand euros – lawyer, court, experts, and if you lose, the other side too. Legal protection insurance covers exactly these cost risks. Here is your complete overview of what is covered, what isn't – and how to obtain your coverage confirmation when it matters.
Private legal protection (contracts, damages, taxes, social law) · employment legal protection (dismissal, warning letters, references, salary) · traffic legal protection (accidents, fines, driving licence) · housing/property legal protection (rent, service charges, ownership). As an expat or emigrant, you should additionally watch the foreign scope – details in the guide Legal Protection International.
Intentional criminal offences, disputes between co-insured persons of the same contract, construction and architect disputes, speculative investments (depending on the policy), cases before the contract began and within waiting periods, and trivial matters below the deductible. Important: the insurer assesses the prospects of success – if declined, the casting decision helps (see main page).
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No, the legal conflict must have arisen after the contract began (and after any waiting periods). So: get covered before things go wrong.
In principle, the statutory fees under the RVG are reimbursed; individual fee agreements beyond that are borne by you, unless the policy provides otherwise.
In insured cases, only the deductible (typically 150–500 €). Lawyer, court and the opponent's costs are borne by the insurer within the sum insured.
Know your rights – and have them paid for: start the Insurance Check (/versicherungs-check).
Sources: Section 127 VVG – Free choice of lawyer, gesetze-im-internet.de · Section 91 ZPO – Principle and scope of the duty to bear costs, gesetze-im-internet.de · Updated: 2026
