How quickly can I get divorced in Liechtenstein?
It depends — an amicable divorce is possible after just one year of marriage, a contested one often only after three years apart. Unlike Switzerland, where divorce sits in the Civil Code (ZGB), Liechtenstein regulates it in a separate Marriage Act (EheG, LR 212.10) from 1973. If both spouses agree and have been married at least one year, they can divorce jointly on the ground of irretrievable breakdown — provided they have settled all consequences (children, maintenance, property, the marital home). Without agreement, one normally has to live three years apart or prove serious fault. The myth: 'After six months apart I am automatically divorced.' Wrong — the one year applies only where both consent; without it, the case drags on at the Princely Court of Justice for years. A cut of the three-year period to one year is under discussion but not yet in force.
📋 The rules
- Amicably after one year: Under the Marriage Act (LR 212.10) spouses can divorce jointly if they have been married at least one year, both regard the marriage as broken down, and have settled every consequence between them.
- Contested usually only after three years: Without agreement, a spouse can sue for divorce once the household has been separated for three years. Short of that period, fault on the other side must be proven.
- Its own law, not the ZGB: Liechtenstein does not place divorce in a civil code like Switzerland but in a free-standing Marriage Act, historically rooted in German and Austrian marriage law.
- Consequences must be settled: For an amicable divorce the court needs a complete agreement on parental care, maintenance, division of property, the marital home and household goods — otherwise there is no divorce.
- Pensions are split: The occupational-pension (second-pillar) entitlements built up during the marriage are in principle split in half on divorce — a point many consider only late.
🔓 Exceptions
- Fault-based divorce: Whoever proves a serious marital wrong (such as violence or adultery) can sue for divorce even before the three years are up — but the proof is demanding.
- Hardship: Where waiting would mean an unreasonable hardship, the court may exceptionally divorce earlier. Such cases are rare and strictly examined.
- Cross-border cases: For marriages with a foreign residence or nationality, private international law decides which law applies and which court even has jurisdiction.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A divorce is not punished, but it can become expensive and drawn-out. At the Princely Court of Justice there are court and lawyer costs; where children, maintenance and property are disputed they add up over years. Whoever refuses to wait out the three-year period and instead alleges a fault they cannot prove loses the case and bears the costs. Less obvious are the financial after-effects: post-marital maintenance can be owed for years, the occupational pension is split, and joint debts survive the divorce. Whoever later ignores an agreed divorce settlement risks debt collection and wage garnishment. And whoever hides assets before the split must expect clawback claims and, in the extreme, a criminal case.
📎 Official sources
- LILEX — Marriage Act (EheG, LR 212.10) (legal register home) →
- Office of Justice / Civil Registry — separation and divorce (national administration) →
- Serviceportal Liechtenstein — divorce and dissolution (national administration) →
❓ Frequently asked
How long must I be married for an amicable divorce?
For an amicable divorce you must have been married at least one year and both regard the marriage as broken down. In addition you must have fully settled all consequences such as custody, maintenance and the division of property.
How long does a divorce take if we do not agree?
Without agreement you normally must have lived three years apart before you can sue for divorce. Only someone who proves serious fault on the other side can have the marriage dissolved earlier, which is demanding to do.
Is divorce regulated as in Switzerland?
No, Liechtenstein regulates divorce in a separate Marriage Act and not in the civil code as Switzerland does. The contested separation period here is three years, whereas in Switzerland it is only two years.
What happens to the pension fund on divorce?
The occupational-pension savings built up during the marriage are in principle split in half on divorce. This pension equalisation is often overlooked, yet it can represent a considerable asset.
Do I have to pay maintenance after divorce?
That depends on income, the care of children and the length of the marriage, and is decided case by case. Post-marital maintenance can be owed for years and is enforced through debt collection if it is not paid.
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