Insolvency & Debt Recovery · Luxembourg
Find the right bankruptcy lawyer in Luxembourg
Insolvency and debt problems rarely become easier with time. Tell us what you are facing, personal or corporate, and we match you with a lawyer in the Grand Duchy who works on commercial debt, restructuring and recovery. Free, confidential and without obligation.
- Matched with a lawyer on a Luxembourg Bar roll
- A clear first conversation, with no obligation
- Support on costs and legal aid before you commit
Free, confidential and no obligation to instruct.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
The situation
Debt, insolvency and the courts in Luxembourg
If a company or a sole trader can no longer pay what is owed, the decisions taken in the first weeks shape everything that follows: which creditors are approached, which assets are protected, and whether the business can be restructured or has to be wound up. Commercial and civil disputes in the Grand Duchy are heard by the District Courts of Luxembourg and Diekirch, with smaller claims going before a Justice of the Peace, and the rules on who may represent you change with the court and the type of matter. That is why the choice of counsel matters. Tell us briefly what is happening and we match you, free of charge, with a bankruptcy lawyer in Luxembourg whose practice covers commercial debt, restructuring and recovery work.
How it works in Luxembourg
Insolvency and commercial debt in the Luxembourg court system
Luxembourg deals with insolvency and commercial debt through the same ordinary courts that hear other civil and commercial disputes, while the rules on who may represent you shift with the court and the matter. These are the structural points worth knowing before you instruct anyone.
Where your case is heard
The Grand Duchy is divided into two judicial districts, Luxembourg and Diekirch. Their District Courts have jurisdiction in all civil and commercial matters not expressly assigned elsewhere, while claims of lesser value go before one of the three Justices of the Peace, sitting in Luxembourg City, Esch-sur-Alzette and Diekirch.
Who may represent you in court
Only lawyers registered on the roll of the Barreau de Luxembourg or the Barreau de Diekirch may practise law in the Grand Duchy. Before the District Courts in civil matters, representation by an avocat à la Cour (List I) is in principle mandatory, though commercial matters, summary proceedings and the Justice of the Peace are among the recognised exceptions.
Two independent Bars
Luxembourg has no single national bar. The Barreau de Luxembourg, by far the largest, and the Barreau de Diekirch, which groups the lawyers of the northern judicial district, each have their own Bâtonnier, administer legal aid and discipline their members, so which Bar your lawyer belongs to is a practical detail.
Language and procedure
Procedure in Luxembourg runs on French: procedural documents must be drafted in French, even though hearings may be conducted in French, German or Luxembourgish and court-provided translation is paid for by the State. Because legislation and judgments are published in French, a working command of French is essential for litigation.
What litigation costs
Luxembourg levies no court fees payable to the State for bringing proceedings, so the heaviest item is usually your lawyer’s fees, together with notaries, bailiffs and experts. A losing party may be ordered to pay costs, but each side in principle bears its own lawyer’s fees unless the court awards a procedural indemnity.
Legal aid
Natural persons of insufficient means may apply for legal aid (assistance judiciaire), which covers lawyer, notary, bailiff and translator fees in civil, commercial and administrative cases and in criminal matters. It may be total or partial, at 50% or 25%, and is decided by the Bâtonnier of the Bar of your place of residence.
Every country-specific statement on this page is drawn from official Luxembourg and European sources — the Ministry of Justice, Guichet.lu, Legilux, the ITM and the European e-Justice Portal — reviewed in 2025.
- European e-Justice Portal – National justice systems: Luxembourg
- Ministry of Justice – The legal profession (avocat)
- Guichet.lu – Lawyer’s fees and court costs
- Legilux – Civil Code (limitation periods)
- Guichet.lu – Termination of a residential lease
- Guichet.lu – Declaration of succession
- Guichet.lu – Administrative appeals
- ITM – Notice periods for dismissal and resignation
- European e-Justice Portal – Access to justice at national level: Luxembourg
Common situations
When the money stops moving
Most businesses and individuals wait too long before asking for advice. Do you recognise any of these?
Creditors are closing in
Suppliers, banks or a public creditor are chasing payment and you are no longer sure the business can keep trading. The earlier you take advice, the more routes stay open.
You are unsure which route fits
Restructuring, a negotiated settlement or a court process: the right path depends on your cash position, your creditors and how the company is structured. A specialist can map the options before you commit.
Creditors or assets abroad
Luxembourg businesses often work with counterparties in several countries, which raises questions about which courts and which law apply. A lawyer used to cross-border files can coordinate the response.
Why use the matching service
What you get from europeanlawyerfinder.com
One short request, and we look for counsel whose daily work covers the problem you actually have.
Insolvency-focused lawyers
We look for lawyers whose practice covers commercial debt, restructuring and contentious recovery work, so your first conversation is with someone who already knows the terrain.
Registered with a Luxembourg Bar
Only lawyers on the roll of the Barreau de Luxembourg or the Barreau de Diekirch may practise in the Grand Duchy, and only they may give paid legal consultations as a habitual activity.
Clarity on fees
Lawyers in Luxembourg set their own fees by agreement with the client, so the basis of charging is discussed directly with you. Legal aid may be available where your means are insufficient.
Trilingual files handled
Procedure is drafted in French, while hearings may be held in French, German or Luxembourgish. We look for lawyers who move comfortably between the languages your file requires.
Cross-border matters
Where else we match clients
Luxembourg sits between Belgium, France and Germany, and its courts regularly hear files with parties, assets or creditors elsewhere in Europe. If your matter crosses a border, we can look for counsel in the relevant jurisdiction as well.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a bankruptcy lawyer in Luxembourg?
Start by describing your situation: whether the pressure comes from suppliers, a bank or a public creditor, whether the business is still trading, and where the assets sit. We then match you with a bankruptcy lawyer in Luxembourg whose practice covers commercial debt and recovery, and you decide whether to instruct them.
Which court handles commercial and insolvency-related matters in Luxembourg?
Commercial matters are heard by the two District Courts, in Luxembourg City and Diekirch, which have jurisdiction over civil and commercial disputes not expressly assigned elsewhere. Claims of lesser value go before one of the three Justices of the Peace. Appeals are heard by the Court of Appeal and cassation by the Court of Cassation, both sitting in Luxembourg City.
Do I have to be represented by a lawyer in Luxembourg?
Before the District Courts sitting in civil matters, and before the Court of Appeal, the Court of Cassation, the Constitutional Court and the administrative courts, representation by an avocat à la Cour on List I is in principle mandatory. Exceptions exist, notably in commercial matters, summary proceedings, most family-affairs applications and before the Justice of the Peace.
What does it cost to bring a case in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg charges no court fees payable to the State for bringing proceedings, so the main cost is your lawyer’s fees, along with notaries, bailiffs and experts where relevant. The losing party may be ordered to pay costs, but each party in principle bears its own lawyer’s fees unless the court awards a procedural indemnity.
Can I get legal aid for an insolvency matter in Luxembourg?
Legal aid (assistance judiciaire) is available to natural persons of insufficient means in civil, commercial and administrative cases and in criminal matters. It may be total or partial, at 50% or 25%, and covers lawyer, notary, bailiff and translator fees. The application is decided by the Bâtonnier of the Bar of your place of residence.
In which language will my case be handled?
Luxembourg has three administrative languages: French, German and Luxembourgish. Procedural documents must be drafted in French, while hearings may be conducted in any of the three, and court-provided translation is paid for by the State. For cross-border files it is worth agreeing language arrangements with your lawyer at the outset.
Next step
Tell us about your situation
A short description is enough: who is owed money, what has been threatened, and what you want to protect. We review it and match you with a lawyer in Luxembourg who handles this kind of work. The service is free and you are never obliged to instruct.