Lawyer tenant law in Liechtenstein: get matched with the right counsel

Liechtenstein in practice

Tenant law and the courts in Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a civil-law jurisdiction whose private law follows the Austrian Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, in force as LGBl. 1811 with numerous Liechtenstein amendments. Tenancy cases therefore run through the ordinary courts in German, in a system that combines three instances of ordinary jurisdiction with a separate constitutional court.

Three instances of ordinary jurisdiction

Ordinary jurisdiction is exercised in three instances: the Fürstliches Landgericht in Vaduz as first instance, the Obergericht as second instance and the Oberster Gerichtshof as third instance. The Oberster Gerichtshof also sits as the Verwaltungsgerichtshof. The Staatsgerichtshof is a separate court of public law that hears constitutional complaints.

Only listed lawyers may practise

Under the Gesetz über die Rechtsanwälte, the profession may only be practised by a person entered in the Liechtenstein lawyers’ list kept by the Liechtensteinische Rechtsanwaltskammer. Entry requires, among other things, EEA or equivalent nationality, a bar examination or three years of regular practice, a domestic office and professional indemnity insurance. Lawyers qualified in other EEA states may provide services under Art. 78 RAG.

Representation is not compulsory in civil cases

The Zivilprozessordnung contains no provision establishing a general Anwaltszwang, and § 33(1) ZPO expressly permits a party to grant a power of attorney to persons who are not lawyers. Parties may therefore act in person or through a Bevollmächtigter. For specific high-value or higher-instance matters, representation rules should be checked case by case.

Court fees are value-based and paid in Swiss francs

Under the Gerichtsgebührengesetz the assessment base is generally the value in dispute, amounts are rounded up to the next franc and foreign-currency amounts are converted into Swiss francs at the SIX AG reference rate. If a fee is not paid on time, a Zahlungsauftrag demands payment within two weeks plus a CHF 25 surcharge and is then directly enforceable.

Legal aid and free advice in simple cases

Verfahrenshilfe is available under § 63 ZPO to a party who cannot meet the costs of proceedings without impairing the necessary livelihood, and can include exemption from fees and procedural costs or the assignment of a lawyer as Verfahrenshelfer. In simple cases, court interns also give free oral advice and draft submissions in German, by telephone, subject to a prior appointment.

The 2026 limitation reform

The Liechtenstein Government considered the general civil limitation period of 30 years no longer appropriate in the information age and submitted a reform shortening it. In the consolidated ABGB text the general period is now ten years, while final judgments, enforceable settlements and enforceable instruments remain subject to 30 years. Proceedings and filings are conducted in German.

The data on this page is drawn from official Liechtenstein sources (Fürstliche Gerichte, gesetze.li, the Liechtenstein Bar Association, the Oberster Gerichtshof and the Government) consulted in 2026.

• Fürstliche Gerichte — Oberster Gerichtshof and court structure
• Liechtensteinische Rechtsanwaltskammer
• Gesetz über die Rechtsanwälte (RAG) and Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) on gesetze.li
• Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (ABGB) — limitation periods
• Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — appeal and recourse periods
• Gerichtsgebührengesetz (GGG) — court fees
• Oberster Gerichtshof — Rechtssätze on EFTA Court advisory opinions
• Fürstliche Gerichte — unentgeltliche Rechtsberatung (free legal information)
• Government of Liechtenstein — information on the 2026 limitation reform