Between signing and cover stands the waiting period — usually 3 months for many cases. Also key: deductible, exclusions and the right to free choice of lawyer.
✓ Verified: 18/07/2026
WHAT TO DO
Signing is easy, the devil is in three details: waiting period (no signing on a smouldering dispute), deductible and the exclusion list. Compare tariffs on these on Check24. And: choosing your lawyer is always yours, that is direct law.
If you would rather argue your case in English, GetSafe↗ (legal hotline and initial consultation in English) and Feather↗ (a call with an English-speaking lawyer is included) sell legal cover with English service throughout. The cheapest tariffs in the comparison are usually still cheaper — but in a legal dispute, understanding every word beats saving a couple of euros a month.
I took a 150 € deductible: the premium noticeably lower, and small disputes I would not take to court anyway. For rare big cases the deductible is peanuts.
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Lea recommends:
Sign before the first whiff of conflict: due to the waiting period a policy bought after the fight with your employer will not pay for that dispute. Insurance is for the future, not the current fire.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the waiting period and why?▾
A term (usually 3 months) after signing during which the insurer does not pay for new disputes in certain modules. It deters those who sign when a conflict is already brewing. Traffic and criminal defence often have none.
Can I choose my own lawyer?▾
Yes, it is your legal right (free choice of lawyer, § 127 VVG). The insurer may recommend one but not impose it — take the lawyer you trust.
What is usually NOT covered?▾
Classic exclusions: disputes when building your own house, family law (divorce) except initial advice, capital investments, intentional acts. Check the exclusion list before signing.