Deadlines & dates

Filing an Objection (Widerspruch): Step by Step

An objection (Widerspruch) doesn't have to be complicated. Three things matter: the right office, the deadline, and your proof that it arrived.

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026

Machine-translated from German using AI. Only the German version is authoritative.

General information, not legal advice. Only the law, official sources and your specific letter are binding.

In short

You file an objection (Widerspruch) with the office that sent the notice (Bescheid), within the deadline stated in the notice of legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung). A short letter is enough, with the file number, the date of the notice, the sentence “I hereby file an objection”, and your signature. You can usually send the reasons later.

To whom?

To the office named in the notice of legal remedies.

By when?

Usually one month from the announcement (Bekanntgabe).

Reasons?

Can usually be sent later.

Proof?

Registered mail, fax with transmission report, portal, or a stamp of receipt.

What belongs in the objection?

1Your name and address
2File number or customer number from the notice
3Date of the notice you are objecting to
4The sentence: “I hereby file an objection.”
5Optional: short reasons or a note that they will follow
6Date and signature

Template to adapt

Widerspruch gegen den Bescheid vom [Datum], Aktenzeichen [Nummer]

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit lege ich Widerspruch gegen den oben genannten Bescheid ein.
Die Begründung reiche ich nach.

Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Eingang.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Name, Unterschrift]

The template is an example. Adapt it to your case and check in the notice of legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) which legal remedy applies. At the Finanzamt, for example, it is called Einspruch (appeal).

How to make sure it arrives

Registered mail with return receipt or drop-off registered mail (Einwurf-Einschreiben)
Fax with a transmission report, if the office names a fax number
Online portal of the authority, if the notice of legal remedies names the electronic route
Hand it in in person and have the receipt stamped on a copy

What happens afterwards?

The authority checks the notice again. If it agrees with you, it changes the notice. Otherwise you receive an objection decision (Widerspruchsbescheid), against which a lawsuit at court is usually possible, again with a deadline. In many procedures, for example at the Jobcenter, an objection costs nothing.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay despite the objection?

Often yes. For charges and costs demanded by authorities, the objection usually has no suspensive effect. You can ask the authority to suspend enforcement.

Can I withdraw the objection?

Yes, as long as no decision has been made. This can make sense if it turns out that the notice was correct after all.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not for the objection. For large amounts or difficult cases, advice centers, social associations, or a lawyer can help.

Got a letter like this in front of you?

bliqq explains your notice to you and can suggest a draft for your reply. Always check the draft yourself before sending it.

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Sources

Read on

Understanding the Notice of Legal Remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung)

What the notice of legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) at the end of a notice (Bescheid) says, how to read the deadline, form, and office from it, and what applies if it is missing.

Understanding a Notice (Bescheid)

What a notice (Bescheid) is, how to recognize one, how it is structured, and why the notice of legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) at the end matters so much.

Recognizing Deadlines in Letters

Where deadlines appear in letters and notices, how to match the date with the action required, and why your specific document is what matters.

General information, not legal advice. Only the law, official sources and your specific letter are binding.