Rechtsstand Herbst 202643 life situations645 topic pages41 roadmapsFree, no account

I have experienced violence or been the victim of a crime

Violence in a relationship or family, stalking, assault, sexual violence, burglary or robbery: how to protect yourself now, secure evidence, meet the deadlines for a criminal complaint and for the home, and which help, support and compensation come into consideration.

The heart of the matter

Safety comes before everything else. If you are in danger, call 110. The helpline "Violence against Women" (116 016) is available around the clock, free of charge and anonymous. Everything else in this roadmap can wait until you are safe.
A report and a criminal complaint are two different things. A criminal report (Strafanzeige) can be made without any deadline. But some offences, such as simple assault, insult or trespass, are often only prosecuted if a formal criminal complaint (Strafantrag) is filed within 3 months (§ 77b StGB). The period starts when you know the offence and the offender.
Evidence disappears quickly. Injuries, messages and witnesses are hard to prove later. A medical or confidential forensic examination is also possible without you reporting to the police straight away.
The family court protects you even without criminal proceedings. Under the Violence Protection Act (Gewaltschutzgesetz), the court can order no-contact and restraining orders. Anyone living with the violent person can demand sole use of the home. This must be done in writing within 3 months of the offence (§ 2 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 GewSchG).
Many forms of help cost nothing. Advice centres, trauma outpatient clinics and, in serious cases, a lawyer for victims and trial support can be free of charge. Benefits of social compensation (SGB XIV) can also be granted retroactively if the application is made within one year of the offence.

How the roadmap works. Answer the questions. They produce your roadmap. It shows what matters for your safety now, which deadlines are running and who can help you free of charge. You do not have to do any of this alone or decide anything straight away, not even whether to report to the police. If you are in danger now, call 110 first. This roadmap is general information and does not replace legal advice.

Your answers are not stored or transmitted; they only appear in your browser's address bar. Anyone who shares the link also shares the answers. Legal status as of November 2026: GewSchG §§ 1, 2, 4 in the version currently in force (the amendments by the Act of 2 July 2026, BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 198, on electronic monitoring, perpetrator work and a higher penalty range only apply from 1 July 2027); BGB §§ 195, 197, 199, 208, 253, 1361b, 1684; StGB §§ 77, 77b, 184i, 230, 238; StPO §§ 158, 395, 397a, 403 ff., 406d–406i, 68; SGB XIV §§ 10, 11, 13, 17, 31–37 (trauma outpatient clinic), 115; SGB V § 27 Abs. 1 (confidential forensic evidence collection); BMG § 51; SGB VIII §§ 8a, 42; SGB II in the version since 1 July 2026 (Grundsicherungsgeld); police and public order law of the federal states (expulsion from the home).

Your situation

Your roadmap

The roadmap needs JavaScript. Without JavaScript you can find all content on the target group pages, for example Arbeitslose und Arbeitnehmer.

As of November 2026. The roadmap arranges general information according to your answers. It does not review an individual case, does not replace legal advice and does not assess your dismissal or any deadline as valid, met or missed. Whether an entitlement exists is decided by the responsible office; deadlines and amounts change often – check important details with an advice centre.

Ask your question

On a decision, deadline, application or responsibility. You get an answer with the matching page, the responsible office and the next step, usually within two working days. No legal advice in individual cases, no sharing of your data.