Debt Relief & Personal Insolvency in Slovakia (2026): How It Works
Slovakia provides a personal bankruptcy procedure called osobny bankrot (personal bankruptcy) whose goal is oddlzenie (debt discharge -- literally "de-indebtedness"). It is governed by the Zakon o konkurze a restrukturalizacii a o zmene a doplneni niektorych zakonov (Act on Bankruptcy and Restructuring, No. 7/2005 Z.z.) as amended, including by Act No. 377/2016 Z.z. which introduced personal bankruptcy effective 1 March 2017. The debtor may choose between two paths: konkurz (liquidation bankruptcy, where all assets are surrendered to pay debts) or splatkovy kalendar (payment schedule, where assets are retained but debts are repaid in instalments over five years). All petitions must be filed exclusively through the Centrum pravnej pomoci (CPP -- Centre for Legal Aid) or a CPP-designated attorney; no other party is legally authorised to file on the debtor's behalf.
What it is called
The procedure is osobny bankrot (personal bankruptcy); the outcome -- legal freedom from remaining debts -- is called oddlzenie (debt discharge). The governing statute is the Zakon o konkurze a restrukturalizacii a o zmene a doplneni niektorych zakonov (Act on Bankruptcy and Restructuring and on Amendments to Certain Laws), No. 7/2005 Z.z. (law title verified via slov-lex.sk, July 2026), as amended by Act No. 377/2016 Z.z. which added the personal bankruptcy provisions effective 1 March 2017. The full consolidated text of the law is available on the official Slovak legislation portal at www.slov-lex.sk (search for ZZ/2005/7). The competent authority for filing is the Centrum pravnej pomoci (CPP -- Centre for Legal Aid), a state institution with an exclusive statutory mandate to submit personal bankruptcy petitions. CPP operates 15 regional offices with 43 consulting workplaces across Slovakia (verified via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk, July 2026). The public insolvency register is REPLIK (Register upadcov -- Register of Insolvencies), administered by the Slovak Ministry of Justice and accessible at replik.justice.sk (existence and content confirmed via WebFetch, July 2026).
Who can use it
Osobny bankrot is available to any fyzicka osoba (natural person / individual), whether or not they were or are an entrepreneur (verified via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk, July 2026). There is no distinction between consumer debtors and former business owners: private individuals, current or former sole traders, and former company directors can all apply. The debtor must be insolvent or over-indebted (unable to meet financial obligations). The exclusive requirement is that the petition must be submitted by the Centrum pravnej pomoci (CPP) or an attorney designated by CPP. Slovak law prohibits any private company, private law firm acting independently, or other person from filing an oddlzenie petition on a debtor's behalf -- this is to protect debtors from predatory intermediaries (confirmed via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk, July 2026).
How the process works
Step 1 -- Consultation: the debtor contacts CPP by telephone (0650 105 100, Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00), through the online reservation system at centrumpravnejpomoci.sk/rezervacia-terminu, or in person at a CPP office. A consultation fee of EUR 6 applies (rate effective 1 July 2025, verified via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk). Step 2 -- Application: the debtor completes the CPP application form and attaches required documents (list of creditors and amounts owed, list of assets and income, employment or pension documentation). The file is submitted to the local CPP office in person or by post. An application processing fee of EUR 50 applies (rate effective 1 July 2025, verified via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk). Step 3 -- Court petition: CPP reviews the file and, when complete, submits the bankruptcy petition to the competent court on the debtor's behalf. Step 4 -- Choice of path: the debtor chooses between two routes (verified via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk, July 2026): (a) Konkurz (liquidation bankruptcy): a court-appointed spravca (bankruptcy administrator) takes control of all of the debtor's assets, liquidates them, and distributes the proceeds to creditors. Once the procedure closes, all remaining debts are discharged. The debtor loses their assets but is free of all qualified debts immediately upon closure. (b) Splatkovy kalendar (payment schedule): the debtor retains their property but must pay a court-set portion of their income to creditors over a set period. Remaining debts are discharged at the end of the schedule.
How long it lasts and the outcome
Konkurz (liquidation): the procedure lasts until all realisable assets have been liquidated and distributed. Once closed, the court issues the oddlzenie decree, discharging all remaining qualifying debts immediately. This path tends to be resolved faster for debtors with few or no significant assets. Splatkovy kalendar (payment schedule): the debtor repays a court-set amount to creditors for a period of five years, as set by Act No. 7/2005 Z.z. as amended by Act No. 377/2016 Z.z. Upon completion of all required payments, the court issues the oddlzenie decree, extinguishing remaining qualifying debts. In both paths, the oddlzenie (discharge) is entered in the REPLIK register at replik.justice.sk (verified via WebFetch, July 2026). Debts that survive oddlzenie and remain enforceable regardless of path include: maintenance and alimony obligations; damages arising from criminal acts; and claims of creditors that the debtor deliberately concealed during the proceedings. If the debtor acts fraudulently during the procedure, the court may annul the discharge.
Where to get official help
Centrum pravnej pomoci (CPP -- Centre for Legal Aid): the sole authorised body for filing personal bankruptcy petitions in Slovakia. Website: www.centrumpravnejpomoci.sk. Telephone: 0650 105 100 (Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00). Online appointment: centrumpravnejpomoci.sk/rezervacia-terminu. Application forms: centrumpravnejpomoci.sk/sekcia-kategoria/14-formulare-a-dokumenty. Source verified July 2026. REPLIK (Register upadcov): the public insolvency register at replik.justice.sk, administered by the Ministry of Justice. Shows all ongoing and closed personal bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings in Slovakia. Source verified July 2026. Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic: www.justice.gov.sk. Full text of Act No. 7/2005 Z.z. (and amendments): www.slov-lex.sk. Source confirmed July 2026. IMPORTANT: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult the Centrum pravnej pomoci directly -- they are the only body authorised to handle your petition and will advise you free of charge on eligibility and procedure.
FAQ
Can only the Centrum pravnej pomoci file a personal bankruptcy petition?
Yes. Under Slovak law, only the Centrum pravnej pomoci (CPP) or an attorney formally designated by CPP may submit an oddlzenie (debt discharge) petition to the court on a debtor's behalf (confirmed via centrumpravnejpomoci.sk, July 2026). No private law firm, debt-management company, or other intermediary is legally authorised to do so. This statutory monopoly protects debtors from predatory advisers. The debtor contacts CPP directly, pays a EUR 6 consultation fee and a EUR 50 application processing fee (rates effective 1 July 2025), and CPP handles all court filings.
What is the difference between konkurz and splatkovy kalendar?
Konkurz (liquidation bankruptcy): the debtor surrenders all non-exempt assets to a court-appointed spravca (administrator), who liquidates them for distribution to creditors. Once the procedure closes, all remaining qualifying debts are discharged. The debtor loses their assets but is immediately free of all discharged debts. Splatkovy kalendar (payment schedule): the debtor keeps their assets but must pay a court-set portion of their income to creditors every month for five years (per Act No. 7/2005 Z.z. as amended). Remaining debts are discharged at the end of the five-year period. The choice between the two paths is made by the debtor in consultation with CPP based on their personal and financial circumstances.
What is REPLIK and how can it be used?
REPLIK (accessible at replik.justice.sk, administered by the Slovak Ministry of Justice, verified July 2026) is the public insolvency register for Slovakia. It contains searchable records of all ongoing and closed bankruptcy, restructuring, and personal bankruptcy (osobny bankrot) proceedings. Anyone can search by name or case number to find out whether proceedings are open, who the appointed spravca (administrator) is, and what orders the court has issued. Publication of notices in REPLIK is legally required for all insolvency proceedings in Slovakia.
⚠️ Informational estimate, not tax advice. Payroll software may differ in edge cases. Verify with a professional.