Although the knowledge-dependent start of the limitation period according to § 199 para. 1 of the German Civil Code (BGB) only requires knowledge of the facts that establish the claim, legal ignorance should exceptionally postpone the start of the limitation period in cases of uncertain and doubtful legal situations. This work primarily examines in which cases courts believe an uncertain and doubtful legal situation exists, what practical implications this case law has, and how other European legal systems handle the inclusion of legal knowledge in the start of the limitation period. The author criticizes the dogmatic approach of the case law and develops an objective approach, which allows for a postponement of the limitation period only in rare cases of initial claim recognition.