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Schuldner- und Insolvenzberatung Debt and insolvency counseling

Schuldner- und Insolvenzberatung
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Debt and insolvency counseling (Schuldner- und Insolvenzberatung) includes: • Advice, support and representation for debtors in pre-court debt settlement (in particular out-of-court agreement with creditors) • Informing debtors about the requirements for consumer insolvency proceedings (Verbraucherinsolvenzverfahren) and the residual debt discharge procedure (Restschuldbefreiungsverfahren) if the out-of-court agreement fails • Issuing the certificate of an unsuccessful settlement attempt (§ 305 para. 1 No. 1 of the Insolvenzordnung [Insolvency Code]) • Support with filing the application to open insolvency proceedings and assistance in conducting the legal proceedings • Practical life-skills counseling (protection against account seizure or economic household management)

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• Over-indebtedness or insolvency exists or is imminent You are no longer able to cover your living costs and pay due installments and bills using your income and existing assets.

Documents you need

• all documents proving over-indebtedness • evidence of income and expenses • evidence of use of state assistance • official notices, income tax certificate (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung) • reminders, current statements of outstanding claims • garnishment orders (Pfändungsbeschlüsse) • notice of termination of tenancy, eviction • cut-off of energy and heating supply • application for assumption of rent arrears under § 22 (8) SGB II (Social Code Book II) • application for account garnishment protection (Kontopfändungsschutz) • evidence of pending criminal proceedings

Fees

none

Legal basis

• Insolvenzordnung (InsO – Insolvency Code) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/inso/ • Gesetz zur Ausführung der Insolvenzordnung (AG InsO – Act Implementing the Insolvency Code) of the State of Berlin www.berlin.de/sen/soziales/service/berliner-sozialrecht/kate • Sozialgesetzbuch Zweites Buch (SGB II – Social Code Book Two) § 16a No. 2 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_2/__16a.html • Sozialgesetzbuch Zwölftes Buch (SGB XII – Social Code Book Twelve) § 11 (5) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_12/__11.html • Gesetz zur Reform des Kontopfändungsschutzes (Act Reforming Protection Against Bank Account Garnishment) <https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&start=//*%255B@attr_id=%27bgbl109s1707.pdf%27%255D#__bgbl__%2F%2F*%5B%40attr_id%3D%27bgbl109s1707.pdf%27%5D__1519631125753> • Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO – Code of Civil Procedure) § 835 (5) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__835.html

Further information

• Schuldnerberatung (debt counseling) - Information from the Senatsverwaltung für Integration, Arbeit und Soziales (Senate Department for Integration, Labour and Social Affairs) www.berlin.de/sen/soziales/besondere-lebenssituationen/schul • Schuldnerberatung Berlin (Berlin debt counseling) www.schuldnerberatung-berlin.de/ • Recognized debt and insolvency counseling centers www.berlin.de/sen/soziales/besondere-lebenssituationen/schul

Who is responsible

This service can be used at a recognized Schuldner- und Insolvenzberatungsstelle (debt and insolvency counseling center) in your district of residence.

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 327302 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327302/