Life

Liechtenstein offers a very high quality of life. The services for various life situations as well as the scenic, cultural, and economic opportunities are enormous.

Family

In Liechtenstein, there are many offers for families and domestic partnerships. Various institutions provide many activities and projects. They all want families in Liechtenstein to do well.

What support is available for families in Liechtenstein?

What should be considered in the event of a separation?

Here you will find an overview with contacts to counseling centers, legal factors, and much more:

You can find many useful information and offers related to family life in Liechtenstein on the family portal.

Family Support

Family support means that families are supported financially, among other things.

For example, there is financial assistance when a baby is born. This is called birth allowance.

Additionally, families receive child benefits every month.

But there is also support for people with disabilities and for elderly people.

Detailed information on family support can be found here:

Pregnancy and Birth / Maternity

Documents and Papers

When a baby is born, various documents and papers are needed. These and many other information for the time before and after birth can be found here. This includes maternity, prenatal care, birth certificates, clarification of custody rights, and much more.

On the website of familienportals.li, you will find information on medical care, courses and events, counseling services, and childcare.

schwanger.li

The specialized office schwanger.li offers pregnancy counseling in Liechtenstein. A team of experienced counselors informs, advises, and supports pregnant women, men, and couples. They conduct counseling sessions regarding questions, concerns, or problems related to pregnancy and childbirth. The service is free and can be anonymous upon request.

Parental Leave / Maternity Sick Pay / Maternity Allowance

Maternity Protection

Mothers must be protected after giving birth.

During this time, they do not work. This is called maternity protection. The maternity protection lasts for a total of

20 weeks. If a mother worked before giving birth, she is entitled to daily allowance.

The mother then receives 80% of her salary during this time.

Parental Leave

Parental leave is entitled to both parents. Each parent can take four months of parental leave. Together, this amounts to eight months. Parental leave is unpaid. There is a new EU directive stating that Liechtenstein must introduce a two-week paid paternity leave.

    Maternity Allowance

    There are mothers who do not have the right to receive a daily allowance. They can submit an application for a one-time maternity allowance. This maternity allowance is granted to them if the legal requirements are met. Here you will find more information:

    Parental Allowance / Family Allowance

    When a family has a child, they need more money. They receive this from the family compensation fund (FAK). For example, a family receives child benefits every month. Or when a child is born, the family receives a one-time birth allowance. There are also parents who live alone with their children; they receive a single-parent allowance. For parents who do not work in Liechtenstein and live abroad (cross-border commuters), there is a differential compensation. More information on benefits and entitlement criteria can be found here:

    Out-of-Home Childcare / Daycare

    Parents who work can use out-of-home childcare. Trained individuals take care of the children there, for example in a daycare center. There, the children can play with other children and spend the day.

    Here you will find all out-of-home childcare options. There are also day families, private kindergarten, and care offers for school children.

    Registration for Childcare

    If you wish to have your child cared for outside the home, you must register your child on the parent portal (website).

    Or you can directly make an inquiry to your desired childcare facility.

    You can also calculate how much a care place costs here.

    Financing of Childcare

    Some parents cannot afford out-of-home childcare. Therefore, they can apply for financial assistance from the Office for Social Services (ASD). This is based on income. More information can be found here:

    Help, Support, and Protection for Children and Adolescents

    At the Office for Social Services (ASD), there is the Child and Youth Service with two specialized areas. The Child and Youth Assistance and the Promotion, Protection, and Addiction Services. The following is done there:

    • Child and Youth Assistance:

      Here, families are supported. Efforts are made to ensure that a family can meet the needs of children and adolescents. If the protection or well-being of children or adolescents is endangered, the Child and Youth Assistance intervenes.

    • Child and Youth Promotion promotes extracurricular children’s and youth work. For example, through professional support and counseling for individuals and organizations. It also provides financial support.

    • Child and youth protection creates conditions that protect children and adolescents from dangers. Parents and teachers are supported in dealing with these dangers.

    Applications and further information can be found here:

    Separation / Divorce

    A separation or divorce is a difficult life phase. In both cases, it requires a lot of strength. The consequences can be far-reaching, especially when there are shared children.

      Court Interns

      If you want to learn about the process of separation or divorce, you can also contact the court interns. In simple cases, you can get free information about the applicable law here.

      Separation/Divorce of Parents

      The Office for Social Services has created a guide for parents regarding separation and divorce. You can find this and further information here:

      infra - Information and Contact Center for Women

      infra has also created a divorce guide.

      You can find the guide and more detailed information on the infra website.

      Additionally, infra offers a fact sheet on protection for migrants. It describes how separation or divorce affects residency rights.

      Financial Support

      You receive financial support or supplementary benefits if you do not have an adequate minimum income. The minimum income determines how much money a person needs for a minimum standard of living, including food, clothing, and housing.

      There is a legal entitlement to these benefits, but only if specific requirements are met. More information can be found here:

      Office for Social Services

      The Office for Social Services can provide financial assistance. For example:

      Advice and Help

      Mother and Father Counseling by the Liechtenstein Red Cross

      Parents and caregivers of young children (up to five years) receive professional advice over the phone, during home visits, and in discussions. The counseling is voluntary, free of charge, and confidential. Topics include breastfeeding, nutrition, care, development, parenting, and the role of parents. Some important information (breastfeeding, nutrition, diseases) is also available in other languages.

      Pro Juventute - Mother and Father Counseling

      Another offering is the mother and father counseling from Pro Juventute.

      You can call there or use the chat function to ask questions about daily life with infants or toddlers. The counseling covers areas such as breastfeeding, nutrition, care, development, parenting, and the role of parents. On the homepage, you will find articles that are sometimes written in simple language.

      Family Network

      Stressed parents can find support, advice, and guidance here.

      The offer is aimed at parents with children aged 0–5 years who are in stressful situations, such as newly arrived parents with few contacts or language barriers.

      Parent-Child Forum

      The Parent-Child Forum helps with various

      questions and offers advice. For example, regarding childcare or educational questions, as well as when there are problems in the family. The service is voluntary and available to all residents in Liechtenstein. The Parent-Child Forum organizes courses and events on family and parenting topics.

      For non-German speaking parents, there are discussion groups in their native language, called

      Children and Youth Services

      The Office for Social Services (ASD) has a department for children and young people: the Children and Youth Service. Families with children and adolescents are supported there. For example, if they are in a crisis or difficult life situation.

      School social work

      School social work is a low-threshold service provided free of charge to public schools by the Liechtenstein Education Authority.

      It accompanies children and adolescents in the process of growing up, supports them in coping with life and promotes their skills for solving personal and social problems. Teachers and parents are strengthened in their educational tasks and the school is supported in socio-pedagogical matters.
      Further information at:

      School Psychology Service

      Some children have problems at school. For example, with learning. Or there are problems with behavior. Then the School Psychological Service can help. It supports students, parents and teachers. Detailed information can be found here:

      Rent contributions

      Families and single parents with dependent children are entitled to rent contributions. The families must live in rented accommodation and have been resident in Liechtenstein for at least one year. Application forms are available at the Office of Social Services and at all municipal administrations.
      You can obtain further information from your municipality and from the Office of Social Services.