Courts of Germany
Five separate branches of courts, each with its own federal supreme court, plus a Federal Constitutional Court that stands apart from them all.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Ordinary courts (civil and criminal)
Federal Court of Justice (BGH)
Higher Regional Courts (OLG)
Regional Courts (LG)
Local Courts (AG)
Administrative courts
Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG)
Higher Administrative Courts
Administrative Courts
Labour courts
Federal Labour Court (BAG)
State Labour Courts
Labour Courts
Social courts
Federal Social Court (BSG)
State Social Courts
Social Courts
Finance (tax) courts
Federal Finance Court (BFH)
Finance Courts
Stands apart from the chain of appeals
Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG)Reviews laws and hears constitutional complaints
Worth knowing
- Each of the five federal supreme courts is the final court for its own branch.
- Individuals can bring a constitutional complaint to the Federal Constitutional Court once ordinary remedies are exhausted.
- Most of the lower courts are run by the Länder (states), while the federal supreme courts are federal.
Compare Germany with another country →
Read the Germany profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Sources
Other systems
AustraliaBrazilCanadaChinaEgyptEngland and WalesEuropean UnionFranceHong KongIndiaIrelandIsraelItalyJapanMexicoNetherlandsNew ZealandNigeriaRussiaSingaporeSouth AfricaSpainTurkeyUnited States
TheLawToKnow Tools’s court-structure diagrams are simplified on purpose and are not legal advice. Report a mistake.
