German law and the court system in Germany: what to consider in contracts and litigation documents

A code based and systematic legal tradition

Many types of agreements are regulated in detail in the German Civil Code and Commercial Code. References to specific sections are common and must be handled carefully in translation.

• Always keep section numbers and headings intact when translating references to legislation.
• Long sentences can often be split into shorter units in English or Turkish, as long as the logical structure is preserved.
• Ensure that definitions and cross references remain consistent throughout the translated document.

Court structure in Germany

The German court system is organised along subject matter and value thresholds.

• Local and regional courts hear many first instance cases.
• Higher regional courts and the Federal Court of Justice act as appellate courts and shape case law.
• Specialised courts exist for labour, administrative and social security matters.

Translators must accurately reflect the level and type of court, because this information affects procedural rights and deadlines.

Working with German contracts and official letters

• Start by analysing the definitions section and list of annexes before translating individual clauses.
• Be cautious with compound nouns, which may require descriptive translations rather than a single word.
• Pay special attention to time limits, notice requirements and jurisdiction clauses in order to avoid ambiguity.

Reducing legal risk through professional translation

Even minor inaccuracies in legal translation can have serious consequences. To manage risk effectively, it is advisable to:

• Introduce a second pair of eyes for critical documents through revision or peer review.
• Maintain a shared term base for your organisation so that terminology remains consistent across projects.
• Add clarifying notes where necessary, especially if the target legal system uses different concepts.

With this approach, documents connected to the German legal system can be used confidently by lawyers, managers and business partners in other jurisdictions.