# German — Litigation and Settlement Sub-Lexicon

Auto-generated from translation experience. Maps German civil, administrative, and
criminal litigation and settlement terms to their correct English equivalents.
German procedure is governed by the Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO), Strafprozessordnung
(StPO), Strafgesetzbuch (StGB), Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung (VwGO), Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz
(VwVfG), and Finanzgerichtsordnung (FGO); substantive law by the BGB, StGB, and sector statutes.

## Court Structure

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gerichtsbarkeit | jurisdiction / branch of courts | |
| ordentliche Gerichtsbarkeit | ordinary (civil/criminal) courts | |
| Verwaltungsgerichtsbarkeit | administrative courts | |
| Finanzgerichtsbarkeit | fiscal / tax courts | |
| Sozialgerichtsbarkeit | social courts | |
| Arbeitsgerichtsbarkeit | labour courts | |
| Amtsgericht (AG) | local court | First-instance, smaller civil / minor criminal |
| Landgericht (LG) | regional court | First-instance larger matters; appeals from AG |
| Oberlandesgericht (OLG) | higher regional court | Appeals from LG; first-instance in antitrust, IP |
| Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) | Federal Court of Justice | Highest ordinary court (civil, criminal) |
| Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVerwG) | Federal Administrative Court | |
| Bundesfinanzhof (BFH) | Federal Fiscal Court | |
| Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG) | Federal Labour Court | |
| Bundessozialgericht (BSG) | Federal Social Court | |
| Bundesverfassungsgericht (BVerfG) | Federal Constitutional Court | Karlsruhe |
| Verwaltungsgericht (VG) | administrative court | First-instance administrative |
| Oberverwaltungsgericht / Verwaltungsgerichtshof (OVG/VGH) | higher administrative court | |
| Finanzgericht (FG) | fiscal / tax court | |

## Parties and Representation

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Partei | party | |
| Kläger / Beklagter | claimant / defendant | Civil |
| Antragsteller / Antragsgegner | applicant / respondent | Non-contentious / administrative |
| Berufungskläger / Berufungsbeklagter | appellant / respondent (on appeal) | |
| Revisionskläger / Revisionsbeklagter | revision appellant / revision respondent | |
| Streitverkündeter | party to whom notice is given | |
| Nebenintervenient | intervener in support | |
| Rechtsanwalt | attorney / lawyer | |
| Syndikusrechtsanwalt | syndicus attorney / in-house counsel admitted to bar | |
| Prozessbevollmächtigter | litigation representative | |
| Streitgenossenschaft | joinder of parties | |
| Prozessstandschaft | procedural standing (asserting others' rights) | |
| Gerichtsvollzieher | bailiff / judicial officer | |
| Notar | civil-law notary | |

## Civil Procedure (Zivilprozess)

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) | Code of Civil Procedure | |
| Klage / Klageschrift | claim / statement of claim | |
| Klagezustellung | service of the claim | |
| Klageerwiderung | defence / response to claim | |
| Replik | reply | |
| Duplik | rejoinder | |
| Termin zur mündlichen Verhandlung | oral hearing | |
| Beweisaufnahme | taking of evidence | |
| Zeugenvernehmung | witness examination | |
| Parteivernehmung | party examination | |
| Sachverständigengutachten | expert opinion / expert report | |
| Augenschein | inspection / view | |
| Urkundenbeweis | documentary evidence | |
| Beweislast | burden of proof | |
| Substantiierungslast | duty to specify / substantiation burden | |
| streitige Tatsachen | contested facts | |
| Geständnis | admission | |
| Säumnis | default | |
| Versäumnisurteil | default judgment | |
| Einspruch gegen Versäumnisurteil | objection against default judgment | |
| Anerkenntnisurteil | acknowledgement judgment | Defendant acknowledges claim |
| Verzichtsurteil | waiver judgment | Claimant waives claim |
| Urteil / Endurteil | judgment / final judgment | |
| Teilurteil | partial judgment | |
| Zwischenurteil | interim judgment | |
| Grundurteil | interlocutory judgment on liability | |
| Beschluss | order / ruling | |
| Zwangsvergleich | forced settlement | In insolvency context |
| Klagerücknahme | withdrawal of claim | |
| Erledigungserklärung | declaration of settlement / of matter resolved | |
| übereinstimmende Erledigungserklärung | mutual declaration of resolution | Ends proceedings; cost decision by court |
| Kostenentscheidung | costs decision | |

## Preliminary and Urgent Relief

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| einstweilige Verfügung | preliminary / interim injunction | |
| Arrest | attachment | Pre-judgment freezing |
| dinglicher Arrest | attachment in rem | Against property |
| persönlicher Arrest | personal attachment | |
| einstweilige Anordnung | interim order | Particularly in family / administrative |
| Verfügungsgrund / Verfügungsanspruch | grounds for injunction / substantive claim | |
| Eilbedürftigkeit | urgency | |
| Schutzschrift | protective writ | Defensive filing to pre-empt ex parte injunction |
| Beschlussverfügung / Urteilsverfügung | by-order / by-judgment injunction | Distinction in ZPO practice |

## Evidence (Beweisrecht)

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beweis | evidence | |
| Strengbeweis / Freibeweis | strict evidence / free evidence | Distinction in ZPO |
| Beweisantritt | offer of evidence | |
| Beweismittel | means of evidence | Witness, documents, experts, inspection, party examination |
| Glaubhaftmachung | making credible / prima facie showing | Lower standard — for injunctions, procedural matters |
| Beibringungsgrundsatz | party-presentation principle | Parties define facts to be proved |
| Amtsermittlungsgrundsatz | inquisitorial principle | Court investigates facts itself (admin, criminal) |
| Sachverhaltsaufklärung | fact-finding | |
| Aktenvorlage | production of files | |
| Urkundenvorlegung | document production | |
| § 142 ZPO Urkundenanforderung | court-ordered document production | |

## Judgments, Appeal and Enforcement

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rechtskraft | res judicata / finality | |
| formelle Rechtskraft | formal finality | No longer appealable |
| materielle Rechtskraft | substantive finality / res judicata effect | |
| Rechtsmittel | remedy / appeal | |
| Berufung | appeal (to LG or OLG) | First appeal — factual and legal review |
| Revision | revision | Appeal on points of law only — to BGH |
| Nichtzulassungsbeschwerde | complaint against non-admission of revision | |
| Beschwerde | complaint | Against orders (not judgments) |
| sofortige Beschwerde | immediate complaint | |
| Rechtsbeschwerde | legal complaint | To BGH, on points of law |
| Wiedereinsetzung in den vorigen Stand | restitutio in integrum | Restoration after missed deadline |
| Restitutionsklage | action for retrial | Extraordinary remedy for fraud, etc. |
| Nichtigkeitsklage | action for nullity | |
| Zwangsvollstreckung | enforcement / execution | |
| vollstreckbarer Titel | enforceable title | |
| Vollstreckungsklausel | enforcement clause | |
| Vollstreckungsgegenklage | counter-enforcement action | § 767 ZPO — debtor challenges continuing enforceability |
| Pfändung | attachment / garnishment | |
| Forderungspfändung | garnishment of claims | |
| Lohnpfändung | garnishment of wages | |
| Zwangsversteigerung | compulsory auction | |
| Zwangsverwaltung | compulsory administration | |
| Insolvenzantrag | insolvency petition | |
| Insolvenzverwalter | insolvency administrator | |

## Administrative Law and Procedure

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz (VwVfG) | Administrative Procedure Act | |
| Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung (VwGO) | Administrative Courts Act | |
| Verwaltungsakt | administrative act | Cornerstone concept |
| Bescheid | administrative decision / notice | |
| Widerspruch / Widerspruchsverfahren | objection / objection procedure | Pre-litigation remedy before VG — not mandatory in all Länder |
| Widerspruchsbescheid | notice of objection decision | |
| Anfechtungsklage | action for annulment | Against administrative act |
| Verpflichtungsklage | action for performance | Seeking issuance of admin act |
| Feststellungsklage | action for declaratory judgment | |
| Leistungsklage | action for performance (non-act) | |
| Normenkontrolle | norm control / judicial review of rules | Abstract or concrete |
| abstrakte Normenkontrolle | abstract norm control | § 47 VwGO |
| konkrete Normenkontrolle | concrete norm control | Before BVerfG |
| Fortsetzungsfeststellungsklage | action for declaration of unlawfulness | After act executed |
| einstweiliger Rechtsschutz | preliminary relief (admin) | § 80, 123 VwGO |
| aufschiebende Wirkung | suspensive effect | |
| sofortige Vollziehung | immediate enforceability | |
| Ermessen | discretion | |
| Ermessensfehler | abuse of discretion | |
| Ermessensreduzierung auf Null | reduction of discretion to zero | |
| Beurteilungsspielraum | margin of appreciation | |
| Verhältnismäßigkeitsgrundsatz | proportionality principle | |
| Vertrauensschutz | legitimate expectations / protection of reliance | |
| Informationsfreiheitsgesetz (IFG) | Freedom of Information Act | |
| Subventionsbescheid / Auflage / Bedingung | subsidy notice / requirement / condition | |
| Rücknahme / Widerruf | withdrawal / revocation | § 48, 49 VwVfG |

## Criminal Procedure and Criminal Law

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strafprozessordnung (StPO) | Code of Criminal Procedure | |
| Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) | Criminal Code | |
| Staatsanwaltschaft | public prosecutor's office | |
| Staatsanwalt | public prosecutor | |
| Generalbundesanwalt / Generalstaatsanwalt | Federal Prosecutor General / State Prosecutor General | |
| Angeklagter / Beschuldigter / Verdächtiger | accused / defendant / suspect | Different stages: Beschuldigter (investigation) → Angeschuldigter (after charge) → Angeklagter (trial) |
| Verteidiger | defence counsel | |
| Pflichtverteidiger | court-appointed counsel | |
| Nebenkläger | joint plaintiff / accessory prosecutor | Victim participating in criminal case |
| Zeuge | witness | |
| Verbrechen / Vergehen / Ordnungswidrigkeit | serious crime / offence / regulatory offence | Tripartite classification |
| Verbrechen | serious crime / felony | Minimum 1 year imprisonment |
| Vergehen | offence / misdemeanour | Lesser offences |
| Ordnungswidrigkeit (OWi) | regulatory / administrative offence | OWiG — fines only, no criminal record |
| Ermittlungsverfahren | investigation proceedings | |
| Zwischenverfahren | intermediate proceedings | Review of indictment |
| Hauptverfahren | main proceedings / trial | |
| Anklageschrift | indictment | |
| Strafbefehl | penal order | Written procedure; limited sanctions |
| Hauptverhandlung | main hearing / trial | |
| Eröffnungsbeschluss | opening order | Court admits case to trial |
| Freispruch / Verurteilung | acquittal / conviction | |
| Einstellung des Verfahrens | discontinuation of proceedings | |
| § 153 StPO Einstellung | discontinuation for lack of public interest | For minor offences |
| § 153a StPO Einstellung | discontinuation subject to conditions | Payment, community service, etc. |
| § 154 StPO Einstellung | discontinuation (concurrent offences) | |
| Absprache / Verständigung (§ 257c StPO) | plea agreement | Since 2009 — negotiated sentence |
| Geldstrafe / Freiheitsstrafe | fine / imprisonment | |
| Tagessatz | daily unit (fine calculation) | |
| Bewährungsstrafe | suspended sentence | |
| Jugendstrafe / Jugendrecht | juvenile sentence / juvenile law | JGG |
| Maßregeln der Besserung und Sicherung | measures of improvement and security | Non-penal measures (treatment, preventive detention) |
| Untersuchungshaft | pre-trial detention | |
| Haftbefehl | arrest warrant | |
| Berufung (Strafsache) | appeal (criminal) | Retrial before LG (from AG) |
| Revision (Strafsache) | revision (criminal) | Points of law only — to OLG or BGH |
| Wiederaufnahme | reopening of proceedings | For newly discovered evidence, etc. |

## Settlement, Release and ADR

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vergleich | settlement | § 779 BGB — requires mutual concessions |
| Vergleichsvereinbarung | settlement agreement | |
| außergerichtlicher Vergleich | out-of-court settlement / extrajudicial settlement | |
| gerichtlicher Vergleich | court-approved settlement / judicial settlement | |
| Prozessvergleich | court-recorded settlement | § 794 ZPO — directly enforceable as title |
| Abfindung / Vergleichssumme | settlement amount / settlement sum | |
| Abfindungszahlung | settlement payment | |
| Ratenzahlung | payment by instalments | |
| Verzicht / Anspruchsverzicht | waiver / release | |
| Generalverzicht / Abgeltungsklausel | general release / full and final settlement clause | |
| Erledigung aller Ansprüche | full and final settlement | |
| Freistellung / Freihaltung | indemnity / hold harmless | |
| Schadloshaltung | indemnification | |
| Ausgleichszahlung | equalisation / balancing payment | |
| gegenseitiges Nachgeben | mutual concessions | § 779 BGB element |
| Streitgegenstand / Streitigkeit | dispute / matter in dispute | |
| Anspruch / Forderung | claim | |
| Gegenanspruch / Widerklage | counterclaim | |
| Aufrechnung | set-off | |
| Abtretung von Ansprüchen | assignment of claims | |
| Mediation / Vermittlung | mediation | Mediationsgesetz 2012 |
| Mediator / Vermittler | mediator | |
| Schlichtung | conciliation | |
| Schlichter / Ombudsmann | conciliator / ombudsman | |
| gütliche Einigung | amicable settlement | |
| Güterichterverfahren | judicial mediation | § 278(5) ZPO — judge acts as mediator |
| Mediationsvereinbarung | mediation agreement | |
| Abschlussvereinbarung | concluding / final agreement | |

## Arbitration

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Schiedsverfahren | arbitration | |
| Schiedsvereinbarung / Schiedsklausel | arbitration agreement / clause | |
| Schiedsgericht | arbitral tribunal | |
| Schiedsrichter | arbitrator | |
| Einzelschiedsrichter | sole arbitrator | |
| vorsitzender Schiedsrichter / Obmann | presiding arbitrator | |
| Schiedsinstitution | arbitral institution | |
| Schiedsordnung | arbitration rules | |
| Schiedsspruch | arbitral award | |
| Schiedsort / Sitz des Schiedsgerichts | seat of arbitration | |
| Aufhebungsklage | action to set aside | § 1059 ZPO |
| Vollstreckbarerklärung | declaration of enforceability | § 1060 ZPO |
| Anerkennung ausländischer Schiedssprüche | recognition of foreign arbitral awards | New York Convention |
| DIS (Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit) | German Arbitration Institute (DIS) | |
| DIS-Schiedsordnung 2018 | DIS Rules 2018 | |
| ICC-Schiedsgerichtsordnung | ICC Arbitration Rules | |
| Investitionsschiedsverfahren | investment arbitration | |
| Achmea-Rechtsprechung | Achmea case law | CJEU 2018 — intra-EU BIT arbitration incompatible with EU law |

## Confidentiality and Formal Clauses (Section Headings)

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vertraulichkeit / Geheimhaltung | confidentiality | |
| Vertraulichkeitsklausel | confidentiality clause | |
| Geheimhaltungsvereinbarung | non-disclosure agreement (NDA) | |
| Verschwiegenheitspflicht | duty of confidentiality | |
| Verzichtserklärung | waiver / release | |
| Freistellungserklärung | indemnity / hold harmless undertaking | |
| Abgeltung | full and final settlement | |
| salvatorische Klausel | severability clause | |
| PRÄAMBEL / SACHVERHALT | RECITALS / BACKGROUND | |
| STREITGEGENSTAND | SUBJECT MATTER OF THE DISPUTE | |
| VERGLEICHSSUMME / ABFINDUNG | SETTLEMENT AMOUNT | |
| ZAHLUNGSMODALITÄTEN | PAYMENT TERMS | |
| FREISTELLUNG | INDEMNITY | |
| VERTRAULICHKEIT | CONFIDENTIALITY | |
| SCHIEDSKLAUSEL | ARBITRATION CLAUSE | |
| SCHLUSSBESTIMMUNGEN | FINAL PROVISIONS | |

## Limitation (Verjährung)

| German | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Verjährung | limitation / prescription | |
| regelmäßige Verjährungsfrist | regular limitation period | 3 years per § 195 BGB |
| absolute Höchstfrist | absolute long-stop | 10 years / 30 years for certain claims |
| Hemmung der Verjährung | suspension of limitation | |
| Neubeginn der Verjährung | new commencement of limitation | E.g., acknowledgment |
| Verjährungsbeginn | commencement of limitation | § 199 BGB — year-end + knowledge test |
| Einrede der Verjährung | plea of limitation | Must be raised |
| Verwirkung | forfeiture by delay | Equitable doctrine |

## Notes for Translators

- **§ 779 BGB Vergleich**: The German Civil Code defines a Vergleich as an agreement in which the parties make mutual concessions (gegenseitiges Nachgeben) to resolve an uncertainty or dispute about a legal relationship. A pure waiver by one party is not a Vergleich. Translate as "settlement" or "settlement agreement"; flag the mutual-concession element.
- **Prozessvergleich (§ 794 ZPO)**: Settlement reached during court proceedings and recorded by the court. Has the force of a judgment and is directly enforceable. Different from mere out-of-court settlement. Translate as "court-recorded settlement" with note on enforceability.
- **Berufung vs Revision**: Berufung = first appeal, with factual and legal review, to LG (from AG) or OLG (from LG). Revision = second-level appeal on points of law only — to the BGH (civil/criminal) or to OLG (criminal from LG). Never translate Revision as "appeal" alone — "revision" or "appeal on points of law" is correct.
- **Nichtzulassungsbeschwerde**: Complaint against the OLG's refusal to admit a Revision. Complex gatekeeping procedure. Translate as "complaint against non-admission of revision".
- **Streitverkündung (§§ 72-74 ZPO)**: Procedural mechanism where a party notifies a third party of pending proceedings so that recourse against that third party in later proceedings is not barred by inconsistent findings. Functionally similar to third-party notice. Translate as "third-party notice"; flag German specifics.
- **Güterichterverfahren (§ 278(5) ZPO)**: Judicial mediation introduced by German Mediation Act 2012. A judge who is not the trial judge acts as mediator. Translate as "judicial mediation" with gloss.
- **Einstweilige Verfügung / Arrest**: EV = preliminary/interim injunction; Arrest = pre-judgment attachment (seizure of assets/person to secure enforcement). Two distinct instruments — never conflate. Arrest is rarer and requires showing risk of frustration of enforcement.
- **Schutzschrift**: Protective writ filed with the court in anticipation of an ex-parte injunction application against the filer. Stored in a central register (ZSSR). Translate as "protective writ" with gloss.
- **Administrative procedure distinctions**: Widerspruchsverfahren (objection) is a pre-litigation remedy — mandatory in some Länder and some matters, abolished in others. Anfechtungsklage vs Verpflichtungsklage vs Feststellungsklage vs Leistungsklage are the four main administrative action types. Use precise English equivalents — never flatten.
- **Verbrechen vs Vergehen vs Ordnungswidrigkeit**: German tripartite crime classification. Verbrechen (min. 1 year imprisonment) — felony/serious crime. Vergehen — misdemeanour. OWi — regulatory offence handled by administrative authority, fines only, no criminal record. Never flatten; always flag OWi.
- **Beschuldigter / Angeschuldigter / Angeklagter**: Three stages of the accused: Beschuldigter (investigation), Angeschuldigter (after charge filed), Angeklagter (after indictment admitted to trial). Translate carefully per stage.
- **§ 153 / § 153a / § 154 StPO discontinuation**: Three different discontinuation mechanisms. § 153 = minor offences, no conditions. § 153a = discontinuation subject to conditions (payment, service) — de facto negotiated resolution. § 154 = concurrent offences (focus on the main case). Distinct — flag and translate properly.
- **Absprache / Verständigung (§ 257c StPO)**: German plea-agreement mechanism introduced 2009 — negotiated sentencing following judicial supervision. Limited scope. Translate as "plea agreement" or "sentence agreement"; flag constitutional controversies.
- **DIS Rules 2018**: Major 2018 modernisation of German Arbitration Institute rules. Translate as "DIS Rules 2018" or "DIS Arbitration Rules 2018"; reference German Arbitration Institute on first mention.
- **Verjährung (§§ 194-218 BGB)**: Standard limitation period is 3 years (§ 195 BGB), commencing at year-end of when claim arose and creditor knew/should have known (§ 199). Must be raised as defence — not automatic. Various special periods (e.g., 10 years for real-estate claims, 30 years for property claims). Flag carefully.
- **Verwirkung**: Equitable doctrine separate from Verjährung — rights can be forfeited by delay combined with circumstances creating reliance. Case-law based. Translate as "forfeiture by delay" or preserve German with gloss.
- **Glaubhaftmachung vs Beweis**: Glaubhaftmachung = prima facie showing; lower standard of proof for urgent / procedural applications. Beweis = full proof. Key for preliminary-relief drafting. Translate Glaubhaftmachung as "prima facie showing" or "making credible".
- **Bundesverfassungsgericht (BVerfG)**: Constitutional court — unique role of protecting fundamental rights via Verfassungsbeschwerde (constitutional complaint) by individuals. Not an appellate court in the ordinary sense. Translate as "Federal Constitutional Court" or retain BVerfG.
- **Achmea case law**: CJEU 2018 (C-284/16) ruled intra-EU bilateral investment treaty arbitration incompatible with EU law; 2019 Komstroy extended to ECT for intra-EU. Strong German political-legal push against intra-EU ISDS. Relevant for arbitration clauses. Translate and flag.
- **Austrian and Swiss distinctions**: Austrian ZPO and Swiss ZPO use partly similar terminology but with important differences (e.g., Austrian "Exekutionsordnung" for enforcement). Flag for Austrian/Swiss documents.
- **Wiederaufnahme**: Reopening of proceedings — distinct from appeal. For criminal cases, allowed on newly discovered evidence or manifest errors. Translate as "reopening of proceedings".
- **Ermessensfehler taxonomy**: Ermessensnichtgebrauch (non-use), Ermessensfehlgebrauch (misuse), Ermessensüberschreitung (excess). Key administrative-law concepts. Translate with care.
