Category Archives: German Law
Renting in Germany
Rental contracts all over the world: You agree on the monthly rent, the landlord gives you the key, you move in and pay the rent every month. If there is an issue, you call each other and talk about it. … Continue reading
How to spot a querulous client
Some clients are better not having. When you find out that someone takes up too much time or causes you a headache, it’s often the best thing to fire that client. Whenever I did that, clients were surprised: “But you … Continue reading
Beware of the “Quick Question”
I you provide professional services, you should add the words “quick question” to your e-mail configuration settings and send those messages straight to the spam folder. Case in point from today: RE: Quick Question Hello Andreas, my German husband and … Continue reading
AllExperts is dead
Quite a number of readers have come to this blog through AllExperts, where I have been answering questions on German law for a decade. With more than a thousand thoroughly answered questions, my profile there was a great source of … Continue reading
10 FAQ on Getting Married in Germany – updated 2023
As part of my very popular series of legal FAQ, I now address a subject which I am personally completely opposed to: How to get married in Germany? My personal advice would be not to do it. Don’t throw away freedom like that! … Continue reading
If you insist on free advice, you will get it
You might think I am stupid because I give heaps of legal advice for free in my FAQ. I could earn millions by charging for this service. But I am a nice guy, and it makes my heart warm and fuzzy when I can … Continue reading
The age of sexual consent in Germany
Sometimes, even I get a question that I haven’t had before and which I need to research. For example this week, when a young guy asked: Is it true that 14 years is the age of consent in Germany?Is it … Continue reading
Advice on litigating a child custody case in Germany
I received this question about child custody in Germany and some related matters: Hello,I am an American living abroad in Germany. 5 months ago I married an Estonian man and gave birth to our daughter. Due to a series of unfortunate … Continue reading
How Britons react to Brexit
When I came back home from a trip to the Bolivian jungle yesterday, I had already received dozens of e-mails from Britons along the lines of “my grandfather was from Germany, can I get a German passport?” As an expert in … Continue reading
German history follows me all the way to Bolivia
Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. A few days ago in Santa Cruz, in eastern Bolivia: The Orient Express on which I had come from San José de Chiquitos, even further in the east of the country, was delayed by an hour. Thus, I had … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 