Hamburg District Court

Apply for deferral of procedural costs in insolvency proceedings

If you wish to file for insolvency but cannot afford the costs, you can apply for a deferral of the procedural costs.

Detailed description

To begin insolvency proceedings, the costs incurred must be covered. These costs include, for example, court fees and the insolvency administrator's fees. Therefore, if you plan to file for insolvency, it is important that you have sufficient funds to cover these costs.



If you do not have enough money and no one else can give you an advance, you can request a deferral of the legal costs.



No court fees will be charged until the remaining debts are discharged. The state treasury will cover the costs of insolvency administration.



The deferral is granted separately for each stage of the proceedings. It may also include legal fees if the court deems this necessary.


You do not have to make any payments during the deferral period. However, the deferred procedural costs must be repaid from the insolvency estate during the insolvency proceedings and until the end of the assignment period.



If, after the granting of residual debt relief, the procedural costs have not been repaid to the state treasury, or have not been fully repaid, and you cannot pay the costs in one lump sum, you may be granted installment payments over a period of up to 48 months. The amount of the installments depends on your financial circumstances. The insolvency court determines the amount of the installments.



If your financial circumstances change, you must notify the court immediately. The court will then adjust your installments to reflect your new financial situation. If you do not notify the court, the deferral may be revoked. The costs of the proceedings must then be paid immediately and in full. Payment by installments is no longer possible.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You are a natural person. Legal entities, such as a limited liability company (GmbH), must cover the costs of the proceedings.
  • Your assets are not sufficient to cover the costs of the insolvency proceedings.
  • You must apply for a deferral of the procedural costs.
  • As a debtor, you must file for insolvency yourself or have already filed for it.
  • You must meet the deadlines.
  • There must be no grounds for refusal.
  • The insolvency proceedings must make it possible to achieve debt freedom.

Documents required

  • Application for the opening of insolvency proceedings
  • Application for discharge of residual debt
  • Application for deferral of procedural costs
  • Completed form: “Declaration of personal and financial circumstances”
  • Attach the necessary documents, such as bank statements, to your deferral request.

Please note

The District Court does not provide legal advice. Please contact authorized attorneys or notaries.


The Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) offers affordable legal advice for people with low incomes.

Deadlines

If the deferral is to be granted for the opening of insolvency proceedings, the application must be submitted at the latest when the decision on the application for opening of insolvency proceedings is made.

Procedure

  • At the same time, you apply for the opening of insolvency proceedings and discharge from residual debt if you have not already done so.
  • You are applying for a deferral of the procedural costs of insolvency proceedings. Please use the form "Application for deferral of procedural costs."
  • Submit the completed and signed form along with all required documents to the insolvency court.
  • You apply for deferment for each stage of the procedure individually.
  • The court will examine your application.
  • You will receive the decision.

repayment

  • If you have received discharge from residual debt, you will begin repaying the deferred amounts after the insolvency proceedings.
  • If you are unable to repay the amount or can only repay it in part, you can request an extension of the deferral period.
  • The court may set monthly repayment installments. A maximum of 48 monthly installments may be made. The court determines the amount of the installments.
  • The court will adapt the deferral to your personal and financial circumstances.
  • Report any changes without request and immediately.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case.

Fees

No

Legal remedies

Immediate complaint

Legal basis

Section 290 of the Insolvency Code (InsO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/inso/__290.html


Section 4a ff. Paragraph 1 of the Insolvency Code (InsO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/inso/__4a.html


Section 1360a paragraph 4 of the German Civil Code (BGB)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1360a.html


Section 63 (2) InsO – Remuneration of the insolvency administrator


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/inso/__63.html


Section 115 paragraphs 1 and 2


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__115.html


Section 120 (2) of the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__120.html

Address and contact information

Hamburg District Court

Mon-Fri 9am-12pm

A mailbox is available outside of the Joint Acceptance Point's opening hours (Monday to Friday, 6:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.). This is located at one of the doors at the main entrance to the Civil Justice Building and is intended solely for mail to the Hamburg District Court and Regional Court. The mailbox is opened at 1:00 p.m. when the Acceptance Point closes. A timer in the mailbox automatically closes a dividing flap at midnight. The mailbox is emptied the next working day, and the contents are stamped with the appropriate incoming mail stamp.

Haven't found the right one yet?

To Hamburg Service startpage

Keywords: Suspend insolvency costs Costs pause insolvency Installment payment of insolvency costs

Last updated: 10.09.2026