Teilurteil

Teilurteil is a term in German civil procedure for a judgment that resolves only part of the matters in a dispute, while leaving other issues for a later decision. It is distinct from a final judgment (Schlussurteil), which decides all questions in the case.

Such a partial judgment is typically used when the issues are separable or when a decision on some questions would be inefficient or impractical to wait for the entire case. For example, a court may determine liability in a breach of contract case and defer the calculation of damages, or decide on the existence of a claim while leaving its amount to be determined in a subsequent ruling. The portion decided must be capable of final resolution based on the facts and legal questions presented up to that point.

The effects of a Teilurteil include the immediate establishment of rights and obligations for the issues it covers, and often it can be subject to enforcement or be followed by separate proceedings for the remaining matters. It serves to speed up the resolution of disputes and avoid unnecessary delays when some issues can be settled independently of others. The handling of appeals or further review depends on the applicable procedural rules; typically, the resolved portion can be challenged as a substantive part of the judgment, while the unresolved issues are addressed in a subsequent final decision.