Wegweiser Debtors · Ways out of debt Deutsch

🤝 Advice and points of contact

Where to find debt counselling across Germany and what advice costs.

advice centre meine-schulden.de BAG-SB debt counselling advice centre search free of charge

In brief

You can find debt counselling across Germany through the advice centre search on meine-schulden.de, the portal of the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung (national association of debt counselling services).

Advice from public and non-profit providers is usually free of charge. If costs arise, the centre informs you at the start. There are over 1,400 centres in Germany.

This Wegweiser does not list addresses or phone numbers of individual centres; use the search.

Step by step

  1. Use the advice centre searchOpen meine-schulden.de and enter your town.
  2. Make an appointmentMention any deadlines or garnishment.
  3. Bring documentsOverview of debts, notices, proof of income.
  4. Clarify costs in advanceIf there are costs, the centre informs you at the start.

Deadlines

over 1,400
Debt and insolvency counselling centres in Germany according to BAG-SB.Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung, bag-sb.de
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Waiting times are possible; if a deadline or garnishment is involved, report it immediately.
  • Do not pay advance fees to intermediaries who promise freedom from debt.
  • The certificate in insolvency proceedings must come from a suitable person or body (§ 305 InsO).
  • This Wegweiser is no substitute for legal advice.
  • Legal advice assistance (Beratungshilfe) (§ 1 BerHG, own contribution €15) is only available where no other reasonable help exists (§ 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 BerHG); with free debt counselling that is usually the case.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Nationwide bodies

The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung e. V. (BAG-SB) is the professional association for debt and insolvency counselling and has been active since 1986. The official advice centre search is at meine-schulden.de; information at bag-sb.de.

Certificate

The certificate under § 305 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 InsO is issued by a suitable person or body; it is based on personal advice and a thorough review of income and assets.

Limits

Individual centres, addresses and phone numbers are not listed here because they change and were not checked against primary sources.

Who is responsible
  • Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung e. V. (bag-sb.de, meine-schulden.de)
  • Recognised debt and insolvency counselling centres
  • Verbraucherzentralen (consumer advice centres)
Further reading
Debt counselling: the first stepOverview: debt and ways out

Quick questions

What is “Advice and points of contact”?
Where to find debt counselling across Germany and what advice costs.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
over 1,400: Debt and insolvency counselling centres in Germany according to BAG-SB. (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung, bag-sb.de)
What should I do first?
  • Use the advice centre search: Open meine-schulden.de and enter your town.
  • Make an appointment: Mention any deadlines or garnishment.
  • Bring documents: Overview of debts, notices, proof of income.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Waiting times are possible; if a deadline or garnishment is involved, report it immediately.
  • Do not pay advance fees to intermediaries who promise freedom from debt.
  • The certificate in insolvency proceedings must come from a suitable person or body (§ 305 InsO).
Evidence
  • Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung, bag-sb.de, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • meine-schulden.de, Beratungsstellensuche, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Gesetze im Internet, InsO § 305, retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.