Living in Germany
German letter templates
The letters everyone in Germany eventually has to write — ready to copy, with English translations and the legal form requirements that actually matter.
Cancel a German contract (Kündigung) — gym, phone, subscription
The standard letter for ending a subscription-style contract: gym, mobile plan, internet, insurance, streaming. Since 2022, contracts renew for at most one month at a time after the minimum term — so this letter, sent on time, always gets you out.
Get the template →Cancel a Telekom contract (Kündigung) — mobile, DSL or Glasfaser
Telekom contracts are famously hard to get out of — not because cancelling is legally difficult, but because the cancellation route is buried. Here is what the law actually gives you, where the cancellation button has to be, and a letter you can send if you would rather not hunt for it.
Get the template →Give notice on your apartment (Wohnungskündigung) — template
Tenants can end an unlimited German rental contract with three months' notice — no reason needed. But the form matters: it must be a signed paper letter (email is NOT valid), signed by every tenant named in the contract.
Get the template →Object to an official decision (Widerspruch) — template
Got a Bescheid (official decision) you think is wrong — a rejected benefit, a fee, a visa condition? Most decisions can be formally contested with a Widerspruch within ONE MONTH of receipt. Send this letter immediately to stop the clock; you can deliver detailed reasons later.
Get the template →Bürgergeld / ALG II Widerspruch — object to a Jobcenter decision
The Jobcenter cut your payment, rejected your application, or demands money back — and you think the decision is wrong. A Widerspruch is the formal, free way to contest it, and it must reach the Jobcenter within ONE MONTH of the decision arriving. Send this letter immediately to stop the clock; the detailed reasons can follow later.
Get the template →Apartment application message (Wohnungsbewerbung) — template
On ImmoScout24 or WG-Gesucht, landlords skim dozens of messages and invite the ones that look complete and low-risk. This short structure — who you are, what you earn, when you can move — is what gets viewing invitations.
Get the template →Request a work reference (Arbeitszeugnis) — template
In Germany you have a legal right to a written work reference (Arbeitszeugnis) when you leave a job — and future employers will expect to see it. Always ask for the 'qualifiziertes' version, which covers performance and conduct, not just dates.
Get the template →Received a letter you don't understand?
Paste any official German letter and the assistant explains in plain English what it means and what to do — or drafts a letter the templates don't cover.
Paste a German letter
Official letter, contract or email — get a plain-English explanation and what to do.
Result
AI-generated — general help, not legal advice. Always check important details yourself.
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