Personal insolvency in Germany starts with bookkeeping rather than with a court. You need a complete list: who, how much, on what basis, and at what stage. Until that picture exists, neither free advice nor an attempt to settle will get anywhere.
Building the full picture of your debts
The procedure starts not at court but with a list. Until every creditor and amount is known, neither advice nor an attempt to settle can work.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I thought I had seven creditors. After the credit-bureau disclosure and bank statements it was eleven — two claims had been sold on and the post went to my old address.
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Lea recommends:
Start one folder and file every letter, including the unpleasant ones. Advice sessions start from documents, and without them the first appointment is wasted.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why a complete list when there is clearly a lot outstanding? ▾
Because the outcome depends on how complete it is. A creditor not included risks falling outside the discharge and reappearing with their claim after the procedure ends. Completeness protects you here, not the creditors.
Where do I find the data if post went missing for years? ▾
Start with the free self-disclosure from the credit bureau: it shows current obligations and payment defaults. Add several years of bank statements and balance enquiries to the creditors themselves.
Which debts survive the procedure? ▾
The law names the exceptions expressly: claims from intentional wrongful acts, from intentionally breached maintenance duties, and fines and comparable sanctions. These remain afterwards — worth knowing before you start.
Should I pay off selected creditors while preparing? ▾
Payments to individual creditors before the procedure can be challenged as preferring one over others. Before paying anything in this situation, take the question to advice — otherwise the payment creates a problem rather than a solution.