Familiengericht (Family Court)

What is it?

The Familiengericht (Family Court) is part of the Amtsgericht (Local Court). It makes decisions about legal matters involving families. For example, it can decide which parent a child lives with and how often the child sees the other parent. The Family Court can also order protective measures if someone is at risk.

What are the authority's responsibilities?

The Family Court makes decisions about things such as:

Legal custody of a child
Divorce
Right to contact with a child
Protection from domestic violence

Who is it for?

The Family Court is the right place to go if a court needs to make a legal decision about children, family or marriage. If you are not sure what to do, a counselling centre can help you before you apply to the Family Court.