Wegweiser Debtors · Ways out of debt Deutsch

📋 Good-conduct period and trustee

Your duties during the assignment period: look for work, report inheritances and changes of address, pay only to the trustee.

good-conduct period statutory duties (Obliegenheiten) trustee inheritance employment assignment period

In brief

During the assignment period you must comply with certain duties. Otherwise the court can refuse the discharge of residual debt.

You must do suitable work or make an effort to find work. You hand half of any inheritance or gift to the trustee, and lottery winnings in full. You report a move or a change of employer immediately. You make payments to creditors only through the trustee.

Step by step

  1. Work or actively look for workDocument your applications.
  2. Report changes immediatelyResidence or workplace, to the court and the trustee.
  3. Report any inflow of assetsDo not conceal an inheritance, gift or winnings.
  4. Pay only to the trusteeNo preference for individual creditors.

Deadlines

3 years
Length of the assignment period, during which the duties apply.§ 287 Abs. 2 InsO
50 %
Share of an inheritance or gift that must be handed over to the trustee.§ 295 InsO
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Breaches of these duties can lead to refusal of discharge of residual debt (§ 296 InsO is referred to in § 300).
  • Minor gifts and prizes of low value are excluded (§ 295 InsO).
  • Lottery winnings must be handed over in full.
  • Concealing income is a typical ground for refusal.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Statutory duties (Obliegenheiten)

§ 295 InsO obliges the debtor to pursue suitable employment and, if without employment, to make an effort to find it. Property acquired by inheritance and gifts must be handed over at half their value, lottery winnings in full; minor benefits are excluded. A change of residence or employment must be reported without delay; on request, information must be given on efforts, income and assets. Payments to satisfy insolvency creditors go only to the trustee; no unreasonable liabilities.

Decision

Under § 300 InsO, after the assignment period ends the insolvency court decides on discharge of residual debt after hearing creditors, administrator and debtor; applications for refusal under §§ 290, 296, 297, 297a are possible, and the decision is publicly announced.

Who is responsible
  • Trustee
  • Amtsgericht (local court) – insolvency court
  • Debt counselling
Further reading
Consumer insolvency and discharge of residual debtDebt among the self-employed

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Good-conduct period and trustee“?
Your duties during the assignment period: look for work, report inheritances and changes of address, pay only to the trustee.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • 3 years: Length of the assignment period, during which the duties apply. (§ 287 Abs. 2 InsO)
  • 50 %: Share of an inheritance or gift that must be handed over to the trustee. (§ 295 InsO)
What should I do first?
  • Work or actively look for work: Document your applications.
  • Report changes immediately: Residence or workplace, to the court and the trustee.
  • Report any inflow of assets: Do not conceal an inheritance, gift or winnings.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Breaches of these duties can lead to refusal of discharge of residual debt (§ 296 InsO is referred to in § 300).
  • Minor gifts and prizes of low value are excluded (§ 295 InsO).
  • Lottery winnings must be handed over in full.
Evidence
  • Gesetze im Internet, InsO § 295, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Gesetze im Internet, InsO § 300, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Gesetze im Internet, InsO § 287, retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

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