Liechtenstein - Central Authority (Art. 2) and practical information

Central Authority(ies):

Fürstliches Landgericht
(Court of Justice)
 

Contact details:

Address: Spaniagasse 1
9490 Vaduz
Fürstentum Liechtenstein
Telephone: +423 236 61 11 
Fax: +423 236 65 39
E-mail:  
General website: www.gerichte.li
Contact person:  
Languages spoken by staff: Deutsch, English 

 

Practical Information

Blocking statutes:  

Chapter I
(Letters of Requests)

Transmission of Letters of Requests: postal
Authority responsible for informing of the time and place of the execution of Letter of Request
(Art. 7):
Fürstliches Landgericht
(Court of Justice)
Presence of judicial personnel at the execution of the Letter of Request (Art. 8): Members of the requesting judicial authorities who are involved in the proceedings of a Contracting State may be present at the execution of the request for mutual assistance, provided that they have received the prior authorisation of the authorities responsible for the execution. 
Privileges and duties existing under the law of States other than the State of origin and the State of execution
(Art. 11):
The Principality of Liechtenstein recognises the right to refuse to testify and the prohibition of testifying to which a person is entitled under the law of his or her home state.
Translation requirements
Arts 4(2) and 33):
The mutual legal assistance requests and annexes thereto must be issued in German or accompanied by a translation into German. The confirmation of execution is written in German.
Costs relating to execution of the Letters of Request
(Arts 14(2)(3) and 26):
 
Time for execution:  
Pre-trial discovery of documents
Art. 23):
Requests for mutual legal assistance involving a "pre-trial discovery of documents" procedure will not be executed.
Information about domestic rules on the taking of evidence:   

Witness examination under Chapter I

Should Letters of Request include specific questions to be used during witness examination or only a list of matters to be addressed? Specific questions are generally advantageous.
Is it a public or private hearing? In principle, hearings in civil cases are public.
Do the judicial authorities "blue-pencil" Letters of Requests (i.e. rephrase, restructure and / or strike out objectionable questions or offensive wording so that a Letter of Request may be executed under the laws of the requested State)? In principle, yes.
Is the witness provided in advance with a copy of the questions / matters to be addressed as contained in the Letter of Request? The invitation to appear as a witness lists the subjects to be examined.
Are documents produced by the witness authenticated by the court? No
Is an oath generally administered to the witness? No
Can the witness be made subject to further examination and recall? Yes
Are there sanctions for non-appearance of witness? Yes
Must interpreters who assist with the witness examination be court-certified? Yes
How is the testimony transcribed? Written protocol.

Chapter II
(Taking of evidence by diplomatic officers, consular agents and commissioners)

Article 15 The taking of evidence within the scope of Articles 15, 16 and 17 requires prior authorisation by the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Article 16  
Article 17  
Article 18 No assistance by means of coercive measures shall be given to diplomatic or consular representatives or delegates exercising their functions in accordance with Articles 15, 16 and 17.

Taking of evidence by video-links
(under either chapter)

Chapter I

Are there legal obstacles to the use of video links?  
Technology used:  
Level of interpretation required:  
Simultaneous or in sequence interpretation:  
Interpretation required in which jurisdiction?  
Who pays for the interpretation?  
How would a request for evidence be handled if witness not willing?  

Chapter II

Are there legal obstacles to the use of video links?  
Technology used:  
Level of interpretation required:  
Simultaneous or in sequence interpretation:  
Interpretation required in which jurisdiction?  
Who pays for the interpretation?  

Other Information

Bilateral or multilateral agreements  
Useful links:  
Competent authorities (Art. 17)  
Additional authorities (Art. 24)  

This page was last updated on: