The PGR is Liechtenstein's principal private-law source for legal persons, companies, foundations and trusts; each vehicle must be tested against its special chapter, not only the general provisions.
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PGR · LR 216.0 · LGBl. 1926 Nr. 4 · Editorial explanation · not an official translation
Liechtenstein PGR: Companies, Foundations and Trusts
An independently authored explanation of the official PGR consolidation effective on 1 September 2026. It covers only the identified legal institutions and is not an official translation, the full legislation or advice on a particular structure.
Editorial explanation · not an official translation
Key takeaways
This is an independently authored explanation of official materials, not an official translation or a reproduction of the complete text. The current German version, transitional provisions and the facts of the matter must be checked before reliance.
General minimum capital differs by form: CHF, EUR or USD 50,000 for an AG and other entities with divided capital, 10,000 for a GmbH and 30,000 for entities without divided capital, with full contribution required.
A foundation is legally and economically independent purpose-bound property with legal personality; the PGR distinguishes charitable and private-benefit foundations, including family foundations, and regulates documents, organs, registration and supervision.
A foundation requires minimum capital of CHF, EUR or USD 30,000; its constitutional instrument must address the endowed assets, purpose, beneficiaries or objectively determinable class, organs and destination of assets on termination.
A PGR trust is based on assets being entrusted to a trustee for administration in the trustee's own name for beneficiaries or a purpose; the trust documents and statute define the assets, powers and fiduciary duties.
The trust reform effective from 1 July 2026 is already incorporated into this consolidation, so older materials should not be used without checking the transitional provisions and the new information-entitled-person regime.
01
Corporate forms and capital
The PGR contains general rules for legal persons and special regimes for an AG, GmbH, Anstalt, foundation, registered trust enterprise and other forms. Article 122 sets general minima of 50,000 for an AG and other divided-capital entities, 10,000 for a GmbH and 30,000 for entities without divided capital; the amount may be denominated in CHF, EUR or USD and must be fully contributed. That rule does not replace vehicle-specific requirements, regulated-activity licensing, commercial-register, accounting, AML or beneficial-ownership rules.
02
Foundation architecture
Article 552 defines a foundation as legally and economically independent assets dedicated to a stated purpose and created by a unilateral declaration. The PGR distinguishes charitable and private-benefit foundations, including pure and mixed family foundations. Minimum capital is CHF, EUR or USD 30,000. Charitable foundations and private foundations conducting a specially authorised commercial business require registration; other private foundations may use the formation-notice regime. The structure requires at least two foundation-board members, proper constitutional documents, beneficiary rules, records and, depending on type, a control body or public supervision.
03
Trust formation, administration and control
Under Articles 897 et seq., a trustee receives assets or rights to administer in the trustee's own name as an independent holder of rights and duties for beneficiaries or a stated purpose. The documents must identify the trust, assets, trustee, beneficiaries or purpose and, for a private-benefit trust after the 2026 reform, an information-entitled person and successor. The trustee must follow the documents, maintain proportionate records and an asset inventory, preserve documents and segregate trust assets where the statute requires. A trust exceeding twelve months faces 30-day registration or permitted-deposit rules; charitable trusts have separate notification and supervision rules.
LILEX · LLV · FMA
Official sources
This is an independently authored explanation of official materials, not an official translation or a reproduction of the complete text. The current German version, transitional provisions and the facts of the matter must be checked before reliance.
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Discuss the legal positionEditorial explanation · not an official translation. This is an independently authored explanation of official materials, not an official translation or a reproduction of the complete text. The current German version, transitional provisions and the facts of the matter must be checked before reliance.