Repaying legal aid / legal costs
If the application for legal aid is approved, you are exempt from paying the costs of the proceedings. The court can check your income situation (how much you earn) for up to 4 years after you have received legal aid. You must inform the labour court of your own accord for four years after the end of the proceedings whether your income has improved by more than 100 Euros.
You must also inform the labour court if you move house. So if you earn more money after the case, the labour court may contact you and you will have to pay back the legal costs. Legal aid may have to be repaid either in instalments, in full, in part or not at all. The court can also carry out checks on its own initiative and ask you to disclose your personal and financial circumstances.
Please note: if you lose a case in the second instance, you will also have to pay the other party's legal fees. This is not included in legal aid.
If you have any further questions, please contact your Faire Integration advice centre. You can find out who is responsible for you in your federal state on the advice centre page.
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