Regelfall

Regelfall is a term used in German law and legal theory to denote the standard or typical case to which a given norm is intended to apply. It refers to the default factual constellation under normal circumstances, from which the ordinary rule derives its effect.

In contrast to the Regelfall stands the Ausnahmefall (exceptional case) or Sonderfall (special case), where the facts or the law prescribe a deviation from the general rule. The distinction between Regelfall and exceptions is a common analytical tool in jurisprudence, helping to structure reasoning about how norms operate and when special provisions come into play.

The concept serves several functions. It clarifies which situations the general rule aims to regulate and provides a baseline for evaluating legal outcomes. It also aids in drafting statutes, by indicating where a broad rule suffices and where explicit exceptions are necessary to cover atypical circumstances. In legal writing and teaching, the Regelfall often underpins the presumption that a rule applies unless the facts point to an exception.

Beyond law, the idea appears in philosophy, economics, and policy discourse as a way to describe typical or default conditions that normative rules presume. The term is usually used in combination with its counterpart to convey a structured approach to applying rules, annotations, and decisions in everyday governance and reasoning.