Why legal insurance?
Disputes arise when we expect them least, and legal bills can be costly. Legal insurance protects you in most areas of your personal and professional life.
Peace of mind for legal matters
Feel confident asserting your rights through legal action and secure if a legal case is brought against you.
Free consultations
Need advice or the opinion of a legal expert? Whenever an issue arises, book a call with a lawyer through your Feather account.
What’s covered?
Personal
Protection against matters related to your private life. E.g. contractual issues with your gym membership or instances of your phone provider overcharging you.
Traffic
Legal protection for unjustified parking fines or accusations, deciding who is at fault for an accident, and hit-and-run cases where you're the victim.
Professional
Disputes related to your employment. E.g. wrongful termination, termination agreement, or your rights during maternity leave.
What isn’t covered?
Immigration matters
Matters relating to immigration, visas, and residence permits cannot be covered by the policy.
Reviewing contracts as a preventive measure
Legal insurance is a damage insurance rather than a preventative one. As such, coverage is only provided if there is a breach or damage.
Self-employment and freelancers
The policy does not cover business activities for self-employment as a main occupation or activities associated with running a business.
Anticipated, ongoing, or occurred legal problems
Any matter for which the initial cause of the issue happened in the past or before the end of the respective waiting period.
Customize with add-ons
Home
Additional coverage for disputes that arise as a tenant or homeowner. E,g. issues with rental contracts, rent increases, property management, or noise complaints.
Criminal protection
Additional coverage for the defense against the false accusations of criminal negligence and intentional offences like theft, embezzlement, and fraud if you are found not guilty.
Some considerations
Waiting periods
A waiting period is the amount of time you must wait starting from the commencement date until some or all of your coverage comes into effect.
This time will vary based on the policy chosen and the area of law your matter pertains to. The standard waiting period for legal insurance is 3 to 6 months.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount you have to pay once for every insured legal claim.
This deductible only applies for insured legal matter, so the initial phone consultations are always free.
The deductible usually starts at €300, but might be lower if you held legal insurance in Germany in the past 5 years. After the first claim is paid out, the deductible increases to €500, and reduces by €100 every claim-free insurance year. If your claim can be solved below €250 no deductible has to be paid.
Who else can be covered?
Your partner
A spouse, registered partner
or life partner that lives at the same address as you will be covered for ~€10 per month.
Your children
Children under 18 and children without permanent employment are generally automatically included.
Ready to get covered?
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Frequently asked questions
General
Am I eligible for legal insurance?
If you live in Germany and are 18 years or older, yes! You can use ourquote calculatorhere to determine if you are eligible for legal insurance. However, if you have had your legal insurance canceled by your previous insurance provider, or you have had more than 3 claims in the past 5 years, you are not eligible.
Is legal insurance worth it in Germany?
Yes, it’s worth it, especially as an expat. Sometimes, unexpected things happen, and when you’re not familiar with German law or the language, it can seem pretty impossible to go through a legal battle.
How much do legal expenses cost in Germany?
- An initial phone consultation with a lawyer (depending on the city and without legal insurance) will cost you about €250. This call is just to let the lawyer know about the case and for the lawyer to assess your initial chances of winning.
- Legal insurance will also cover a free legal consultation (for insured events) where a lawyer will tell you about the costs of legal proceedings and how they depend on the disputed amount. When you see a lawyer, they can explain what this is for your case and why it is important. If we take a general example and say your case has a disputed value of €5,000, it would cost at least €2,500 per session in court if you lose.
What are some common legal disputes in Germany?
- Unjust fees incurred by travel cancelation.
- Problems with motor vehicle purchases like warranty or repairs.
- Dispute over sudden termination from your employer.
- Deposit disputes
Policy details
What costs are covered by legal insurance?
The costs for an initial consultation (for an insured event) with a lawyer and the legal proceedings are paid by legal insurance.
Which lawyers can I work with when I have legal insurance?
The first step is to reach out to us through your Feather account so that you can get a consultation with a lawyer over the phone. If you then decide to proceed with a claim (through your Feather account), the risk carrier will assess the eligibility. If your claim is approved, we can recommend an English-speaking lawyer from our network. However, you’re always free to choose your lawyer and will be covered up to the standard amounts according to the Lawyers’ Fees Act (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz). Keep in mind that it is your responsibility to hire legal counsel, and recommended lawyers are never obliged to take on your case.
What legal costs does the insurance generally cover?
The most commonly covered costs are lawyer fees, court costs, out-of-court dispute resolution procedures such as mediation, and costs for expert fees.
There are cases where things aren’t covered, but you can see that in the different plans that we offer when you sign up.
Is it free to speak with a legal expert over the phone?
Yes, the initial phone consultation requested through your Feather account is included.
When can I start using my legal insurance?
You can book a phone consultation with a legal expert as soon as you sign up. For other legal services, there are waiting periods. These waiting periods are different for the Basic and Advanced legal insurance plans. Also, note that once the coverage for your claim is confirmed, a deductible is due before the insurance kicks in.
Will my legal insurance in Germany cover existing legal issues?
No, this insurance does not cover existing legal issues. That’s why it’s important to get covered before a crisis hits.
Policy management
Are my partner and family members also covered?
You can add your family during the sign-up process. Adding your partner will cost around €10 extra per month, so if both partners have jobs, it’s a great value. Plus, children under 18 and any unmarried adult children not fully employed can be added to your policy at no additional cost.
How do I cancel my legal insurance?
Simply hit “cancel” in the account. Your plan can be canceled with one full month’s notice, so you will have your plan for the end of the current month plus the next.
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