Hamburg District Court

Insolvency proceedings, apply for opening

You can file for insolvency if you have debts and cannot repay them. Insolvency proceedings are initiated by a court order.

Detailed description

If you have debts and cannot repay them, you can apply for bankruptcy proceedings.


Insolvency proceedings serve to ensure an equal distribution of available assets among creditors. They can be initiated at the request of either the debtor or the creditors.


Eligible to apply are:

  • In the case of a legal entity such as a stock corporation, limited liability company, or association, this includes not only the creditors but also every member of the representative body, i.e., managing director or board member. In the case of a company without management, this also includes every shareholder.
  • In the case of a stock corporation or a cooperative, each member of the supervisory board also has to do so.
  • In the case of a company without legal personality (general partnership, limited partnership, general partnership, civil law partnership, or partnership limited by shares), each personally liable partner must file an application individually, even if they are otherwise only authorized to represent the company jointly with another person. The situation is different for a self-application due to impending insolvency: in this case, an individual can only file an application if they also have individual authorization to represent the company. If insolvency or excessive indebtedness occurs, there is even an obligation to file an application.
 

Information

Prerequisites

  • Admissible and justified application for the opening of insolvency proceedings.
  • The opening of insolvency proceedings requires a reason for opening. This may be:
    • Insolvency
    • possibly over-indebtedness
    • possible impending insolvency (if the debtor applies for the opening of insolvency proceedings)
  • The future insolvency estate can probably finance the costs of the insolvency proceedings, or the deferral of the procedural costs will be granted upon application.

Documents required

  • Application for the opening of insolvency proceedings
  • if necessary, further documents

Please note

The District Court does not provide legal advice. Please contact a lawyer or notary of your choice.


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

Deadlines

Depending on the type of insolvency proceedings, different deadlines apply.


  • As a member of the representative body of a legal entity, in the event of insolvency or over-indebtedness, file the application for opening of insolvency proceedings without culpable delay.

  • File for insolvency no later than three weeks after you or the company become insolvent.

  • File for insolvency no later than 6 weeks after you or the company become over-indebted.

Procedure

  • You file an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings with the competent authority.
  • During the insolvency proceedings, the competent authority will examine whether your application is admissible and justified.
  • It examines whether the future insolvency estate is likely to be able to finance the costs of the insolvency proceedings.
  • Insolvency proceedings are opened by resolution.
  • You will receive a notification.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case.

Fees


  • The procedural fee is calculated based on the value of the insolvency estate.

  • In addition, there are costs for expenses such as postage or copying costs

Legal remedies


  • If the opening of insolvency proceedings is refused, the applicant and, in certain circumstances, the debtor have the right to lodge an immediate appeal.

  • If insolvency proceedings are opened, the debtor has the right to lodge an immediate appeal.

Legal basis

Sections 11 et seq. of the Insolvency Code (InsO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/inso/__11.html

Links on hamburg.de

Links on the Internet

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: File for bankruptcy Bankruptcy in court Court order insolvency

Last updated: 13.08.2026