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The Hierarchy of the Civil Courts in Germany
The hierarchy of the Civil Courts in Germany, which fall under the "Ordinary Jurisdiction" (Ordentliche Gerichtsbarkeit), has a four-tiered structure:
Local Courts (Amtsgerichte - AG): These are the courts of first instance for many civil matters, particularly those with a lower value in dispute (generally up to €5,000). They also handle certain family law matters and other specific cases regardless of the value. Cases are typically heard by a single judge. There are numerous Local Courts throughout Germany.
Regional Courts (Landgerichte - LG): These courts serve as courts of first instance for civil cases exceeding the jurisdiction of the Local Courts. They also act as appellate courts for judgments from the Local Courts. Cases are usually heard by a panel of three judges (Kammer), although they can sometimes be decided by a single professional judge (Einzelrichter). Within the Regional Courts, there can be specialized chambers, such as commercial divisions (Kammer für Handelssachen) which include lay judges with commercial expertise. There are fewer Regional Courts than Local Courts.
Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte - OLG): These are primarily appellate courts for judgments from the Regional Courts. They review cases on points of fact and law. Cases are heard by a panel of three judges (Senat). There is one Higher Regional Court in most of the German states (Länder).
Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof - BGH): Located in Karlsruhe, this is the highest court for civil and criminal matters in Germany. It acts as a court of last resort, primarily reviewing decisions of the Higher Regional Courts on points of law (Revision). The BGH aims to ensure the uniform application of federal law. Cases are heard by specialized senates.
It's important to note that all these lower instance courts (Local, Regional, and Higher Regional Courts) are state (Länder) courts. The Federal Court of Justice is a federal court. Unlike some other federal systems, Germany does not have parallel federal and state court systems for civil cases at the lower levels.
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