Professionals

In May 2026, the Bundestag passed amendments to the Protection Against Violence Act (GewSchG). The aim of the legislative is to provide even better protection for people affected against acts of violence, threats and stalking. The German Bundestag has adopted the following measures:

• Electronic monitoring (electronic ankle monitor): in high-risk cases, family courts may order electronic monitoring (eAÜ). The perpetrator must then wear an electronic ankle monitor. This makes it easier to enforce prohibitions on coming near the person affected or entering certain locations. The electronic ankle monitor tracks the perpetrator’s whereabouts. At their request, people affected can be provided with a receiver that warns them if the perpetrator comes near them. A judge may order electronic monitoring only if it is expected that the perpetrator will breach prohibitions on coming near the person affected or entering certain locations, thereby creating a specific risk to the life, physical integrity, liberty or sexual (high-risk case) of the person affected. Electronic ankle monitors are a significant intrusion into the perpetrator's private life. A court-ordered ankle monitor can be enforced by the court through a fine or detention, for example, if the perpetrator refuses to wear the ankle monitor despite the order, removes it, or otherwise impairs its functionality.
• Mandatory anti-violence training: Anti-violence training is a long-term preventive measure aimed at behavioural change to prevent further violence. In behavioural intervention programmes, perpetrators are encouraged to become aware of the different forms of violence, recognise their own violent behaviour and reflect on and address that behaviour. They are meant to learn nonviolent communication and de-escalation techniques. This can help break behavioural patterns and prevent relapses. In violence prevention counselling, perpetrators are shown ways to maintain control over their own behaviour.
• Longer prison sentences for violations of protection orders: If a perpetrator breaches a court protection order, for example a prohibition on coming near the person affected, the maximum prison sentence will increase from two years to three years from 2027.
• Information from the National Weapons Register: The family court may obtain information from the National Weapons Register to better assess situations of risk and protect people affected by domestic abuse more effectively.
• Support from a trusted person in proceedings under the Protection Against Violence Act: as a general rule, these proceedings are not heard in public. The Act now explicitly amended to allow people affected to be accompanied by a trusted person during hearings or oral proceedings.

With electronic monitoring and mandatory anti-violence training, family courts can protect people affected more effectively. In addition, the Protection Against Violence Act offers many other protective measures:

• Exclusive use of the home: The person affected by domestic abuse can request that the perpetrator be required to leave the home, at least temporarily, and prohibited from entering it. The core principle is: The person who commits the violence must leave.

• Protective Order: The family court imposes clear requirements and prohibitions on perpetrators to protect the affected person from further danger.

  Possible measures include, for example:

  • Kontaktverbot (Prohibition on contacting you): the perpetrator is not allowed to contact the affected person, including by phone, email, letter or chat message. 
  • Näherungsverbot (Prohibition on coming near you): also known as an Annäherungsverbot, means the perpetrator is prohibited from coming near the affected person.
  • Aufenthaltsverbot (Prohibition on entering certain locations): the perpetrator may not enter any locations specified by the court in the order (such as the affected person’s home or workplace).
  • Preventive measures: affected individuals do not have to wait until the perpetrator physically injures them. Even the threat of violence or acts of stalking can be sufficient grounds for issuing a protection order. To do so, the affected person files a petition with the family court to issue a protection order. If the legal requirements are met, the court will issue protective orders such as prohibitions on coming near the person affected, and other protective measures. In most cases, the family court issues the order within a few days in the form of an interim court order (einstweilige Anordnung).

People affected by domestic abuse in Germany need protection and support. Acts of abuse in intimate relationships and within the family must result in serious consequences. That is why the state protects people who experience abuse through various laws and measures:

• Custody and visitation rights: Children have the right to a violence-free upbringing. If domestic abuse occurs within the family, this can pose a risk to the child’s well-being. Because violence in the family stresses and traumatises children – even if the violence is not directed at them. The parent who commits the violence must then expect consequences regarding their custody and visitation rights. In May 2026, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) published a draft bill for a comprehensive reform of the law governing parent-child relationship. A key focus of this reform is improving protection against domestic abuse in matters of child custody and contact with a child.
• Choice of court in family law: Under the BMJV’s plans, applicants in family law proceedings – for example, proceedings concerning contact, custody or maintenance – will in future be able to choose between different courts with jurisdiction. In cases of domestic abuse, the proceedings will no longer have to be conducted in the court with jurisdiction over the children's place of residence. This means that, following a move, the perpetrator will no longer automatically learn the whereabouts of the children and the affected person through the proceedings. To this end, in May 2026 the BMJV published the draft bill to Improve the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence, Strengthen the Position of Children in Proceedings and Improve Procedural Efficiency. The draft bill also includes a provision clarifying that, in proceedings concerning parent-child matters – such as proceedings on contact or custody – courts will in future be expected to examine the circumstances carefully and investigate where there are indications of domestic abuse, in order to better protect people affected by domestic abuse.
• Divorce without a year of separation: for certain cases of domestic abuse, the law is to be clarified so that, on the application of the person affected, a marriage may be dissolved before the end of the one-year separation period. This change is also part of the planned reform.
• Protection against digital abuse: The Law Against Digital Violence will give people affected by digital abuse better tools to take action against deepfakes, cyber-grooming and hate speech online. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection published a draft bill in April 2026.

Legal proceedings place a heavy burden on people affected by domestic abuse. That is why psychosocial support in criminal trials is available. Psychosocial support includes qualified non-legal counselling, providing information and offering assistance during criminal proceedings. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO), people who have been harmed by serious criminal offences are legally entitled to this support. Psychosocial support in criminal trials provides crucial assistance during both the investigation and the court proceedings. To help ensure that more serious criminal offences are reported and prosecuted, particularly in areas with high levels of underreporting such as domestic abuse, more people will in future be entitled to psychosocial support in criminal trials, and the rules governing its practical implementation will be improved. To this end, the Federal Cabinet approved a draft bill in March 2026.

In addition, the compensation for psychosocial support providers will be increased.

People affected come to counselling centres, the police or law firms with urgent and complex questions. Here is a clear summary of the most important information.