Justice - More family matters at district courts
At the Amtsger Courts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, there were approximately 8,500 Family Cases last year, which is about 200 more than the previous year, as the Ministry of Justice in Schwerin informed the German Press Agency upon request. The average proceedings duration slightly decreased to roughly under eight months.
The number of completed cases concerning child custody also rose – there were approximately 2,400 such cases in 2023, which is about 40 more than the previous year. In such cases, it could be about the distribution of child custody between parents.
If an appeal is filed against a decision of a Family Court, these cases go to the Oberlandes Court. In 2023, 275 appeals in Family Cases were filed at the Oberlandes Court, which is significantly fewer than in the previous year (348). The number of completed Family Cases at the Oberlandes Court remained on a similar level in the two preceding years.
The Child Protection Association in MV generally looks concerned about child custody disputes. The wishes, concerns, and needs of children should not be overlooked, the Landesverband urged.
In contrast, the Amtsger Courts in Lower Saxony handled fewer family matters last year, with around 6,000 cases, a decrease of about 200 cases compared to the previous year, as reported by the Ministry of Justice in Hanover.
Family matters in Lower Saxony include divorce proceedings, adoption cases, and child welfare issues, similar to those in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Despite the decrease in family cases, the Ministry of Justice in Hanover noted a rise in the number of adopted children in Lower Saxony, reaching over 700 new adoptions in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year.
The German Press Agency further reported that the Ministry of Justice is actively promoting family law reforms to ensure a fair and just resolution of family matters in Lower Saxony.
