Solidarschuldner

Solidarschuldner refers to a concept in civil law, particularly in German-speaking countries, describing a situation where multiple debtors are jointly liable for the same debt. This means that a creditor can demand the entire debt from any one of the Solidarschuldner, or from all of them simultaneously, as they are considered to be equally and fully responsible for the entire obligation. The key characteristic is the creditor's freedom to choose which debtor to pursue for payment. Once a Solidarschuldner has paid the full debt, they may have a right of recourse against the other Solidarschuldner for their respective shares, depending on the underlying agreement or legal provisions. This differs from joint tenancy where each debtor is only liable for a specific portion of the debt. The principle of Solidarschuld aims to provide the creditor with greater security and a simpler method of debt recovery. It is commonly found in contractual relationships such as loans or rental agreements where multiple parties guarantee a single obligation. The term translates to "joint and several debtor" in English legal contexts, though precise nuances can vary between legal systems.