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A Spanish company owes you money
Formal demand and court order for payment before the Spanish courts, whatever the amount. You pay little upfront and the bulk only if the money is recovered.
There is no trial. The court orders payment.
The Spanish procedimiento monitorio — order for payment procedure — is not a conventional lawsuit. The court issues a demand for payment and the debtor has twenty days to pay, to object, or to say nothing.
In practice, a debtor who has been ignoring your emails for months often pays as soon as something arrives bearing a court stamp.
And for the initial petition, no lawyer and no court agent are required, whatever the amount claimed. That is set out in article 814.2 of the Spanish Civil Procedure Act. This is what makes it a realistic route for a foreign creditor with an invoice that would not justify hiring a law firm.
What is included
Before the court
- Review of the debt and the supporting documents
- Checking it meets the statutory requirements
- Certified formal demand with proof of delivery and content
- Negotiating instalments if the debtor responds
At the court
- Drafting the initial petition
- Filing it before the competent court
- Following the payment demand
- Keeping you informed at each stage
If the debtor objects
- I tell you the same day
- I prepare the complete file
- I coordinate with a practising Spanish lawyer
- No percentage charged on work I do not carry out
Prices
| Amount owed | Opening fee | On what is recovered |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €3,000 | €180 | 15% |
| €3,000 to €15,000 | €300 | 12% |
| Over €15,000 | €420 | 10% |
Prices include Spanish VAT. The opening fee covers the review, the formal demand and the filing, and is payable upfront — it covers the work even if the debtor turns out to be insolvent. The percentage applies only to money that actually reaches your account.
Example. A debt of €8,000: you pay €300 to start and, if it is recovered in full, €960 at the end. If nothing is recovered, you have paid €300 and no more.
Frequently asked
Do I need a Spanish lawyer?
Not for the initial petition, and there is no limit on the amount. Article 814.2 of the Civil Procedure Act says so expressly. A lawyer becomes necessary later, if the debtor objects or if enforcement is required for a debt above €2,000.
What documents do I need?
Invoices, delivery notes, contracts, accepted quotations, certifications, or emails in which the debtor acknowledges the debt. The debtor does not need to have signed anything. Send me what you have and I will tell you before charging anything.
Can I claim from abroad?
Yes. I act in Spain on your behalf and you do not need to be here at any point in the procedure.
What if the debtor ignores it?
The procedure ends and enforcement against the debtor's assets can be sought. For debts above €2,000, enforcement requires a lawyer and a court agent, so that stage is coordinated with one.
Which court has jurisdiction?
As a general rule, the court of first instance of the debtor's domicile. Where a Spanish company owes money to a foreign creditor, Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 and the Spanish rules on international jurisdiction apply, and Spanish courts are usually competent.
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