Debt collection and bankruptcy law (DL)

Swiss debt collection and bankruptcy law (DL) is part of distraint law.

In principle, a creditor is prohibited from representing itself.

The Federal Debt Collection and Bankruptcy Act (DL) governs the procedure for enforcing claims in the form of sums of money or financial sureties by way of public enforcement. In Switzerland, debt collection is known as ‘recovery’ (‘poursuite’/’Betreibung’).

This is the oldest part of civil law, codified at (federal) Swiss level. It is older than the Swiss Civil Code and the Swiss Code of Obligations, hence some of its peculiarities.

The following services are responsible for the DL:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.