Family in Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein recognises marriage, registered partnerships and cohabitation, called Konkubinat in local usage, as different family forms. In 2024, 341 births and 302 deaths were recorded. In 2020, Liechtenstein had 17,571 private households, including 3,958 families with children under 18. One- or two-person households represented 68.1% of all households. Married couples headed 61.6% of households, cohabiting couples 8.0% and single parents 4.9%. In 2024, 218 marriages involved at least one person resident in Liechtenstein, 341 residents married, 169 residents divorced and nine same-sex registered partnerships were recorded. The average age at first marriage was 31.3 for women and 33.6 for men, and the average marriage lasted 13.5 years before divorce. The recorded divorce rate was 49.6%. The average age of a mother at first birth was 31.2 years and the birth rate was 1.37. The central Civil Status Office, called Zivilstandsamt or ZSA, in Vaduz handles marriage and the recognition of foreign civil-status events. Marriage is possible from age 18. At least one partner must hold Liechtenstein citizenship or have a residence in Liechtenstein. Documents for a marriage appointment may be submitted no earlier than six months and no later than three weeks before the appointment. Registered partnerships have been available in Liechtenstein since 1 September 2011. Marriage does not automatically grant Liechtenstein citizenship. Recognition of a foreign civil-status event through the ZSA costs CHF 150 and usually takes about five to ten working days. Family residence pathways depend on the person’s nationality and relationship. For a spouse from a third country, family reunification generally covers the spouse and joint unmarried children under 18. The application should generally be filed within three years. Requirements can include adulthood, basic German language skills, suitable housing, secure financial support, health insurance and proof of schooling. For EEA and Swiss nationals, the process normally covers a spouse and direct descendants under 21 or dependent descendants. Other relatives may qualify because of financial dependence, a previous shared household or a compelling need for care, but access and legal entitlement can differ. A child’s legal relationship to the mother and her husband normally arises at birth. The legal presumption of paternity can continue for up to 302 days after the marriage has ended, the spouses have separated or the husband has died. An unmarried father can acknowledge paternity through the Amt für Soziale Dienste, known as the ASD. The guardianship court must approve the acknowledgement; the process usually takes about ten days and is free of charge. The mother can object within two years. The parents can establish joint parental custody through the ASD after birth. Children born inside or outside marriage have the same family and inheritance rights. Both parents owe child support until the child can support themself. The ASD is also the central authority for adoption. Domestic adoption placements are very rare, so most practical cases involve adoption from abroad. Adoptive parents generally must be at least 25 years old and at least 16 years older than the child. Married couples and registered partners generally adopt jointly, while an individual may also be eligible. The suitability assessment examines criminal-record history, health, personality, parenting capacity, finances and housing. The ASD charges CHF 900. Applicant reports indicate total costs of about CHF 10,000 to CHF 20,000 and a usual duration of two to four years, but no placement is guaranteed. Liechtenstein has applied the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption since 2009. Foster families undergo an ASD suitability assessment, preparation and ongoing support and may receive payment. A placement can be temporary or permanent. Employment-related parental benefits changed on 1 January 2026. Maternity benefit lasts 20 weeks, or 140 days, and pays 80% of the insured AHV wage when the parent has completed 270 insurance days. AHV is Liechtenstein’s old-age and survivors’ insurance. The benefit can begin up to four weeks before birth and is paid through the Family Compensation Fund, known as FAK. If a newborn remains in hospital for at least two weeks, the benefit can be extended by up to eight weeks. Paternity benefit lasts two consecutive weeks and must be taken within eight months. It pays 80% of the wage and requires either 180 previous insurance days or employment with a Liechtenstein employer. The rule also covers same-sex parents. Each parent can take up to four months of parental leave. Two months are paid. The employee generally needs to have worked for the same Liechtenstein employer for more than six months. Biological parents can use the leave until the child’s third birthday, while adoptive and foster parents can use it until the child’s fifth birthday. The leave is not transferable between parents. Parental benefit pays 100% of the average AHV wage from the previous twelve months, up to CHF 4,900 per month, and requires registration with the FAK. A foreign parallel benefit excludes payment of the corresponding Liechtenstein benefit. Family finances may include child allowances, birth allowances and support for single parents. The regular child allowance is CHF 310 per month per child and CHF 360 from age ten. Families with at least three eligible children or with twins receive CHF 360 per child. The birth allowance is CHF 2,520, or CHF 3,070 per child in a multiple birth. A single-parent allowance is CHF 120 per month per child; it requires an annual application and a shared household with the child. Eligibility usually follows residence or employment in Liechtenstein. Cross-border workers can qualify, and a difference payment may apply when a foreign child allowance is lower. A non-employed mother may apply for an income-based maternity allowance of CHF 500 to CHF 4,500. The application must be filed within three years after the birth. Children under 16 do not pay a compulsory health-insurance premium under Liechtenstein’s mandatory health insurance, known as OKP. Children under 20 do not pay cost-sharing. Premium reductions may be available up to an annual income of CHF 65,000 for a single person or single parent and CHF 77,000 for a married couple or cohabiting household. The application deadline is 31 October. The ASD can finance childcare when a parent uses a day-care centre or childminder for employment-related reasons. The family’s monthly contribution per child depends on annual income. It is CHF 150 up to CHF 24,000, CHF 180 from CHF 24,001 to CHF 26,000, CHF 210 from CHF 26,001 to CHF 28,000 and increases by CHF 30 for each additional CHF 2,000. The contribution can be reduced when the family faces substantial financial pressure. Documents can include the employment contract, wage statement, rental agreement, health-insurance information, maintenance payments, rent assistance and other family benefits. The ASD Children and Youth Service advises parents, young people and other caregivers about upbringing, development, separation, becoming independent, family crisis and overload. Social-educational family support and relief services can be provided on an outpatient basis. A child may instead need a foster family or a pedagogical-therapeutic institution. Child-protection measures can address violence, neglect, sexual abuse and a child’s exposure to violence between parents. The ASD can arrange protection measures, guardianship, foster or educational care, court reports and financial youth assistance. Mediation is voluntary and informal; a neutral third party helps the family communicate but cannot impose a decision. The Landgericht provides simple procedural information through court trainees free of charge. After separation or divorce, parents usually need arrangements for parental custody, contact, care schedules and child support. The percentage method provides a guideline based on the paying parent’s net income: 16% for a child aged 0 to 6, 18% from 6 to 10, 20% from 10 to 15 and 22% from age 15. The amount can be adjusted for other children, a spouse and the share of care provided by each parent. Parents can record a maintenance agreement through the ASD; the guardianship court must approve it before it becomes an enforceable title. Disagreement or a later change can be brought before the Landgericht. The ASD offers a free special legal assistance service for maintenance matters. After unsuccessful enforcement, the Landgericht and the state treasury can provide advance maintenance payments. A person may reclaim a former name after divorce for CHF 100. A foreign divorce or other civil-status event requires recognition through the ZSA. The independent foundation Familienhilfe Liechtenstein, or FHL, provides outpatient nursing, care, household assistance, counselling, case management and relief for family caregivers. Its services cover all ages and situations such as illness, hospital discharge, disability, old age and end-of-life care. Care and support allowance is available to a person with civil-law residence in Liechtenstein who has a health-related need expected to last more than three months, requires substantial daily help from another person and incurs costs for paid assistance. The application can be filed from the date it is received. A specialist service and the family doctor determine the level of support. The six daily rates are CHF 11, CHF 21, CHF 42, CHF 84, CHF 137 and CHF 189. The allowance is earmarked for service providers, with CHF 189 per day as the maximum. Access to FHL and ASD services can vary by regional contact point. After a death, the ZSA records the event. A surviving spouse may receive a widow’s or widower’s pension without a time limit when they have their own or an adopted child, live with a child of the deceased who qualifies for an orphan’s pension, or are childless, at least 45 years old and were married for at least five years. In other cases, the pension is generally limited to two to five years. A divorced person may qualify when maintenance was still being paid. Payment begins in the month after death and ends on remarriage. An orphan’s pension can cover biological, adopted and certain foster children. It generally ends at age 18 or when education ends, but no later than age 25. Two orphan’s pensions may be paid when both parents have died. Indicative monthly amounts are CHF 980 to CHF 1,960 for a widow’s or widower’s pension and CHF 490 to CHF 980 for an orphan’s pension. Core responsibilities are divided among the ZSA in Vaduz, the ASD and its Children and Youth Service, the Landgericht, the Liechtensteinische AHV-IV-FAK, the FAK, the Amt für Gesundheit, the Ausländer- und Passamt and FHL. The main family rules apply nationally, while the municipality or provider can affect the access process, available service and practical timing. Romantic relationships belong in this context only when they lead to marriage, registered partnership, family reunification or parenthood; age-related thresholds belong here only when they determine a family entitlement, and civil-law procedures belong here only when they concern family rights, duties or proceedings.