Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Liechtenstein: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinating Palliative Care, Spitex Home Nursing, and Health Insurance in Liechtenstein

   • Outpatient palliative care and Spitex home nursing: Contact the treating physician early as well as the non-profit home care organization Familienhilfe Liechtenstein e.V. (telephone +423 236 00 66), which provides outpatient nursing, oncology care, and specialized mobile palliative care at home across all eleven Liechtenstein municipalities [1][6]. In addition, the Liechtenstein National Hospital (Liechtensteinisches Landesspital) in Vaduz, the Liechtenstein Old Age and Sickness Aid (Liechtensteinische Alters- und Krankenhilfe, LAK), and the Hospice Movement Liechtenstein (Hospizbewegung Liechtenstein) offer inpatient and supportive palliative services [1].
   • Coverage under compulsory health care insurance (OKP): Coordinate with the ill person's Liechtenstein health insurance fund (Krankenkasse, supervised by the Office of Public Health, Amt für Gesundheit) regarding physician-prescribed home nursing care (Spitex), pain management therapy, medical aids, and hospital beds for home use [1][6]. Medically prescribed nursing services delivered by recognized providers such as Familienhilfe Liechtenstein e.V. are reimbursed under the compulsory health insurance scheme [1][6].
2. 2

   Written Advance Healthcare Directive and Medical Proxy Under the Patient Directive Act

   • Binding and noteworthy advance directives under the PatVG: Under the Liechtenstein Patient Directive Act (Patientenverfügungsgesetz, PatVG), any person capable of insight and judgment can specify in writing which medical measures (such as mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or artificial nutrition and hydration) they refuse in the event that they later lose decision-making capacity [1][2].
   • Formal requirements for a legally binding directive (verbindliche Patientenverfügung): For an advance directive in Liechtenstein to be directly binding in the strict statutory sense, the ill person must receive comprehensive medical information from a physician who certifies in writing that the declarant possesses full insight and judgment and accurately understands the medical consequences of the directive [2]. In addition, a binding advance directive must be executed with the date before an attorney, a notary, or a legally trained advisor of a recognized patient organization, and remains valid for up to eight years (or indefinitely if the declarant loses decision-making capacity in the meantime) [2]. Even a written and dated advance directive executed without those heightened formalities (beachtliche Patientenverfügung) must still be taken into account by the medical team when determining the patient's presumed will [2].
   • Designating a trusted person (Vertrauensperson) for medical decisions: In the advance directive, explicitly name one or two trusted representatives (plus an alternate) authorized to receive medical information from physicians, inspect medical records, and represent the ill person's wishes if they can no longer communicate [2]. Provide copies to the family physician, the National Hospital, and Familienhilfe Liechtenstein e.V. [1][2][6].
3. 3

   Continuing Power of Attorney, Bank Mandates, and Adult Protection at the Princely Court of Justice

   • Executing a continuing power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht) under § 284f ABGB: While your family member retains full legal capacity, they can execute a continuing power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht) under the guardianship and adult protection provisions of the Liechtenstein General Civil Code (ABGB) [3][5]. This instrument specifies which trusted person is authorized to represent the ill person in personal care matters, nursing arrangements, and financial or property administration if legal or mental capacity is subsequently lost [3].
   • Formal requirements and registration at the Princely Court of Justice: A continuing power of attorney must either be written and signed entirely by hand by the grantor or signed before three independent witnesses; however, if it covers serious personal care interventions, permanent dissolution of the household, or extraordinary property transactions, it must be executed before a Liechtenstein attorney, a notary, or directly before the Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht) in Vaduz [3][5]. The activation of the continuing power of attorney (supported by a medical certificate confirming loss of capacity) can be registered with the Fürstliches Landgericht, thereby avoiding the need for a court-appointed guardian (Sachwalter) [3][5].
   • Separate bank powers of attorney at Liechtenstein banks: Because financial institutions in Liechtenstein regularly require their own internal mandate forms for ongoing account management, the ill person should also sign an unrestricted bank power of attorney directly at each Liechtenstein bank on the bank's official forms, valid across incapacity and beyond death.
4. 4

   Care Allowance, Helplessness Allowance, Invalidity Benefits, and Caregiver Support

   • Care and attendance allowance (Betreuungs- und Pflegegeld, BPG) for home care: If the ill person requires regular assistance and care at home, an application can be submitted for the Liechtenstein Care and Attendance Allowance (Betreuungs- und Pflegegeld) [1][4]. An on-site needs assessment determines the applicable care tier to financially support home care provided by family members or recognized services such as Familienhilfe Liechtenstein e.V. [1][6].
   • Invalidity Insurance (IV) benefits and helplessness allowance (Hilflosenentschädigung): For persons of working age, the Old-Age, Survivors' and Invalidity Insurance Authority (Liechtensteinische AHV-IV-FAK in Vaduz, telephone +423 238 16 16) assesses entitlement to an invalidity pension, medical aids, and a helplessness allowance (Hilflosenentschädigung) if the ill person permanently requires third-party assistance for everyday living activities or continuous personal supervision [4]. Persons of retirement age may also qualify for helplessness and care-related support through the AHV/IV and supplementary benefits system (Ergänzungsleistungen) [4].
   • Respite services and counseling for family caregivers: Make use of the nursing counseling offered by Familienhilfe Liechtenstein e.V., the municipal home care coordination office, and respite care options (such as day-care structures or short-term residential care beds at the LAK) to support caregiving relatives early [1][6].
5. 5

   Early Organization of Wills, Beneficiary Designations, and Estate Records in Liechtenstein

   • Executing a valid Will or inheritance contract under Liechtenstein law (ABGB): While full testamentary capacity is intact, your family member should review or execute a last will and testament [5]. Under the Liechtenstein General Civil Code (ABGB), a will can be written, dated, and signed entirely by hand by the testator (eigenhändiges Testament), signed in the simultaneous presence of three capable, independent witnesses (fremdhändiges Testament), or executed before a court or notary [5]. When a person is seriously ill or receiving strong pain medication, it is advisable to obtain a contemporaneous medical certificate confirming full mental and testamentary capacity and to deposit the original will officially with the Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht) in Vaduz [5].
   • Beneficiary designations for occupational pension funds (second pillar) and insurance: Because death benefits and lump-sum capital from occupational pension schemes (Pensionskassen, second pillar) and private life insurance policies pass according to statutory and plan-specific beneficiary rules, the ill person should check and file written beneficiary designations with their pension fund and insurers [4].
   • Document folder and cross-border estate coordination: Assemble civil status certificates, land register extracts, bank and custody account statements, insurance policies, and digital access credentials in one secure folder. If the ill person holds assets abroad or if future heirs reside outside Liechtenstein, consult a Liechtenstein attorney or notary on whether to include an explicit choice-of-law clause in the will under the Liechtenstein Private International Law Act (IPRG) [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Office of Public Health (Amt für Gesundheit) - Healthcare Coverage, Health Insurance, and Patient Rights — Amt für Gesundheit, Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung
2. [2]
   Patient Directive Act (Patientenverfügungsgesetz; PatVG) - Legal Framework and Formal Requirements — Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (LLV)
3. [3]
   Adult Protection Law and Continuing Powers of Attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht) in Liechtenstein — Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (LLV)
4. [4]
   Invalidity Insurance (IV) Benefits and Helplessness Allowance — Liechtensteinische AHV-IV-FAK
5. [5]
   Princely Court of Justice (Fürstliches Landgericht) - Adult Protection, Powers of Attorney, and Wills — Liechtensteinische Gerichte
6. [6]
   Spitex Home Nursing and Palliative Care in Liechtenstein — Familienhilfe Liechtenstein e.V.