Hesse's Family Courts See Slight Rise in Cases Despite Decade-Long Decline

A small uptick in disputes masks a bigger trend: fewer families are ending up in court. Yet when they do, judges still hold the final say in most cases.

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2026 February 12 . 9:14 PM

1 min read

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Family courts in Hesse close more cases - Hesse's Family Courts See Slight Rise in Cases Despite Decade-Long Decline

Family courts in Hesse experienced a slight uptick in cases last year. In 2025, judges processed 40,270 disputes, indicating a 1.6% increase from 2024. However, the overall workload has significantly decreased compared to a decade ago—down by 21.5% since 2015.

The courts handle a diverse range of family issues, including divorce proceedings, alimony disputes, custody battles, and child protection matters. In 2025, most cases (60%) culminated in a formal judicial decision.

A smaller segment, 10%, was resolved through mediation instead of a court ruling. Another 5.3% concluded when the applicant withdrew their claim before a decision was made. However, no recent figures exist on the primary reasons behind cases involving minors compared to 2020.

The latest data paints a mixed picture for Hesse's family courts. While the number of cases inched up slightly in 2025, the long-term trend suggests a lighter caseload than in previous years. Mediation and withdrawals contributed to some resolutions, but most disputes still required a judge's final ruling.