🛡️ Wegweiser Domestic violence

15 topic pages for people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, and for everyone who advises them. Each page first explains the topic briefly and clearly – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and figures.

How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the section In brief in plain language. Below that you will find the most important deadlines, typical mistakes and a collapsible specialist section "In depth" for advisory work, with legal bases and figures.

As of September 2026. Where a statement could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources (e.g. deadlines under state law or individual figures), this is expressly noted on the relevant page instead of guessed. The information does not replace legal advice.

Frequently searched

🚨 Acute danger: what to do now 🧭 Forms of domestic violence and first orientation ⚖️ Gewaltschutzgesetz: restraining order and no-contact order 👮 Police removal order and ban on returning 🏠 Women's shelters and protective accommodation 🚓 Criminal complaint and criminal proceedings 📋 Social compensation for victims of violence (SGB XIV) 📞 Advice and contact points

All topic areas

🧭Overview and first orientationForms of domestic violence and a first starting point.1 topic 🚨Acute danger and immediate helpEmergency call, removal order, refuge in a women's shelter.3 topics ⚖️Protection against violence lawRestraining order, no-contact order, allocation of the home.2 topics 🚓Criminal proceedings and evidenceCriminal complaint, securing evidence, perpetrator programmes.3 topics 👨‍👩‍👧Children and familyChild protection, youth welfare office, family court.1 topic 💶Financial security after separationCompensation, maintenance, residence law.3 topics 📞Advice and supportTrauma counselling, helpline, contact points.2 topics

🧭 Overview and first orientation

Forms of domestic violence and a first starting point.

🧭Forms of domestic violence and first orientationDomestic violence is more than a blow: it ranges from physical, psychological and economic to digital and sexualised violence – and every one of these forms can be challenged legally.

🚨 Acute danger and immediate help

Emergency call, removal order, refuge in a women's shelter.

🚨Acute danger: what to do nowIn acute danger every minute counts: emergency number 110, a safe place, the helpline. This page brings together the most important immediate measures. 👮Police removal order and ban on returningAfter a police call-out, the person posing the danger can be removed from the shared home. The exact rules are in the police act of the respective Land – and therefore differ in detail. 🏠Women's shelters and protective accommodationWomen's shelters offer women and their children anonymous protection from violence. Funding was a patchwork for decades – the Gewalthilfegesetz is meant to change that, but only in stages up to 2032.

⚖️ Protection against violence law

Restraining order, no-contact order, allocation of the home.

⚖️Gewaltschutzgesetz: restraining order and no-contact orderOn application, the family court can forbid the violent person to approach you or make contact – regardless of whether you have filed a criminal complaint. 🔑Allocation of the home after separation because of violenceAfter an act of injury, the family court can allocate the jointly used home to you alone, in full or for a limited period – regardless of who holds the tenancy or ownership.

🚓 Criminal proceedings and evidence

Criminal complaint, securing evidence, perpetrator programmes.

🚓Criminal complaint and criminal proceedingsAssault, coercion and stalking are criminal offences – also within a relationship. A complaint is possible independently of civil-law protection under the Gewaltschutzgesetz. 🩺Securing evidence: medical certificates and forensic violence clinicsForensic violence clinics (Gewaltschutzambulanzen) document injuries in a legally sound way – even if you do not yet know whether you want to file a complaint. Good documentation often decides the success of later proceedings. 🔄Perpetrator programmes and anti-violence programmesAnti-violence and perpetrator programmes are meant to prevent renewed violence. They are mostly voluntary or imposed by a court – and are no substitute for your own protection.

👨‍👩‍👧 Children and family

Child protection, youth welfare office, family court.

👨‍👩‍👧Children in the household: child protection, youth welfare office, family courtWhen children witness domestic violence, this counts as a risk to the child's welfare. The youth welfare office and family court can intervene – without you automatically losing custody as a result.

💶 Financial security after separation

Compensation, maintenance, residence law.

📋Social compensation for victims of violence (SGB XIV)Since 1 January 2024, SGB XIV has governed social compensation for victims of violence and has replaced the former Victims Compensation Act (OEG), removing some of its strictest grounds for exclusion. 💶Financial security after moving outAnyone who moves out because of violence often needs money of their own quickly: separation maintenance, basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) or housing benefit (Wohngeld), and, for children, advance maintenance payments if applicable. 🛂Residence law in cases of violence in marriageAnyone who leaves a marriage because of violence does not automatically lose their right of residence: § 31 AufenthG secures an independent right of residence – in cases of domestic violence even before the otherwise required three years have passed.

📞 Advice and support

Trauma counselling, helpline, contact points.

🧠Psychological support and trauma counsellingDomestic violence often leaves emotional scars. Trauma outpatient clinics, advice centres and psychotherapy can help – regardless of whether you have filed a complaint. 📞Advice and contact pointsThe helpline 116 016 is the central first contact – around the clock, free of charge, anonymous and multilingual. From there you are referred to the right local service.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.