I have debts I cannot pay — where do I get free help?
Free, confidential help exists in every country and works better the earlier you go. Amt für Soziale Dienste — Schuldenberatung (+423 236 72 72) is the debt-advice service for Liechtenstein: they look at everything you owe, stop the panic, negotiate with creditors and, if needed, start the legal debt-relief route. Your Landgericht — Verfahrenshilfe (gerichte.li) can refer you and may cover emergency costs. Gemeindeverwaltung (llv.li) is for the legal side — a bailiff at the door, a garnishment, a court letter. Do not take a "consolidation loan" from an advert; that is how debts grow.
🗣️ What to say
"I have debts of about [total] to [number] creditors and I can no longer keep up. I would like a first appointment to go through my income, my debts and my options — including a payment plan or debt relief."
🪜 Step by step
- Make the listEvery creditor, amount, and what is already in collection. Bring the letters, even unopened.
- Book with Amt für Soziale Dienste — SchuldenberatungFree, non-judgmental. They can write to creditors on your behalf and freeze interest in many cases.
- Protect the essentialsRent, energy and food first. Contact those creditors before anyone else; they have hardship procedures.
- Payment plan or reliefA plan you can keep beats a plan that looks good. If the debts are hopeless, the legal debt-relief scheme wipes them after a set period.
- Court letters: GemeindeverwaltungA court letter has a deadline. Never ignore it — respond or bring it straight to your adviser.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
Will my employer or family find out?
Not from the adviser. A garnishment of wages does reach the employer, which is one reason to act before it gets there.
Can I keep my home?
Usually, if you keep paying rent or the mortgage. Say so to the adviser first thing — housing is protected in every plan.
Is the legal debt relief really free of debts at the end?
Yes, apart from a few exceptions such as fines and maintenance. It takes discipline for a few years and a clean start after.
📎 Sources
- Amt für Soziale Dienste — Schuldenberatung →
- Landgericht — Verfahrenshilfe →
- Gemeindeverwaltung →
- Beschwerdekommission / Landtag — Petitionen →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “free debt advice Liechtenstein”
- “debt help Liechtenstein cannot pay”
- “debt relief scheme how does it work”
- “bailiff at the door what are my rights”
- “stop interest on debts”
🧭 Is this still correct?
We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.
⚠️ Readers report that something here may have changed — we are checking it.
✅ Thank you — this keeps the page up to date for everyone.