🩺 Securing evidence: medical certificates and forensic violence clinics

Forensic 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.

Forensic violence clinic (Gewaltschutzambulanz) Securing evidence Medical certificate Making credible (Glaubhaftmachung)

In brief

Gewaltschutzambulanzen (forensic medical examination centres, mostly at university hospitals) document injuries forensically and free of charge – regardless of whether you have already decided to file a complaint. The findings are archived and can be requested later if needed. Where no Gewaltschutzambulanz is within reach, family doctors or an emergency department also document injuries; expressly ask for documentation that is as detailed as possible, dated and, if applicable, supplemented by photographs.

Besides medical documentation, photos of injuries (ideally with a timestamp, from several angles, if applicable over several days, since bruises change), secured messages (screenshots of text messages, chat histories, call logs) and witnesses are among the most important items of evidence.

Step by step

Get examined promptlyGo to a Gewaltschutzambulanz, hospital or family doctor as soon as possible after the incident.
Take photosPhotograph injuries from several angles, with date/time; for bruises, photograph again on several following days if applicable, since they change.
Secure messagesSecure threatening text messages, chat messages, e-mails or call logs by screenshot; if in doubt, ask an advice centre or a lawyer about court-proof preservation.
Note down witnessesRecord names and contact details of people who observed or heard something.
Store safelyKeep documents in a place the person posing the danger cannot access, e.g. with someone you trust, an advice centre or a lawyer.

Deadlines

No statutory deadline

There is no deadline for an examination by a Gewaltschutzambulanz – physical traces fade over time, however, which is why prompt documentation considerably increases the evidential value.–

Watch out – common mistakes

Do not confuse Gewaltschutzambulanzen (physical, forensic documentation) with trauma outpatient clinics (psychological acute help under SGB XIV) – both are useful, but do different things.
Not every region has its own Gewaltschutzambulanz; in that case ask the emergency department or family doctor specifically for documentation that is as court-proof and detailed as possible.
For an interim order under the Gewaltschutzgesetz, making the conditions credible (Glaubhaftmachung) is generally sufficient – full proof as in criminal proceedings is not strictly required there, but good documents increase the prospects of success here too.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Legal significance of documentation

In civil proceedings (Gewaltschutzgesetz), an interim order regularly requires only making the conditions credible (Glaubhaftmachung) (§ 294 ZPO), not full proof. In criminal proceedings, by contrast, the stricter principle "in dubio pro reo" (the benefit of the doubt for the accused) applies – here seamless, prompt documentation carries particular weight, especially in the frequent one-person's-word-against-another's constellations.

What Gewaltschutzambulanzen do

Gewaltschutzambulanzen examine and document injuries independently of a complaint, free of charge for the affected person, and keep the findings, so that they can be requested later if needed – even after weeks or months. This takes away the pressure of having to decide immediately between filing and not filing a complaint.

Who is responsible

Gewaltschutzambulanzen (mostly at university hospitals)
Family doctors, emergency departments
Advice centres (support with documentation)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Securing evidence: medical certificates and forensic violence clinics“?

Which deadlines and figures matter?

No statutory deadline: There is no deadline for an examination by a Gewaltschutzambulanz – physical traces fade over time, however, which is why prompt documentation considerably increases the evidential value. (–)

What should I do first?

Get examined promptly: Go to a Gewaltschutzambulanz, hospital or family doctor as soon as possible after the incident.
Take photos: Photograph injuries from several angles, with date/time; for bruises, photograph again on several following days if applicable, since they change.
Secure messages: Secure threatening text messages, chat messages, e-mails or call logs by screenshot; if in doubt, ask an advice centre or a lawyer about court-proof preservation.

What do I need to watch out for?

Do not confuse Gewaltschutzambulanzen (physical, forensic documentation) with trauma outpatient clinics (psychological acute help under SGB XIV) – both are useful, but do different things.
Not every region has its own Gewaltschutzambulanz; in that case ask the emergency department or family doctor specifically for documentation that is as court-proof and detailed as possible.
For an interim order under the Gewaltschutzgesetz, making the conditions credible (Glaubhaftmachung) is generally sufficient – full proof as in criminal proceedings is not strictly required there, but good documents increase the prospects of success here too.

Evidence

Information from Gewaltschutzambulanzen on procedure and free-of-charge service (e.g. Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Charité Berlin)
§ 294 ZPO (gesetze-im-internet.de)

As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

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.