Enforcement of Judgments and Enforcement Disputes

The Idea

A judgment on its own does not recover what you are owed. Enforcement follows set steps in a set order: an enforceable copy of the judgment bearing the executory formula, service of the enforceable instrument on the judgment debtor, and then enforcement measures through the court bailiffs and the court's enforcement office. A mistake in the order of steps or in service can delay enforcement or expose it to nullity.

Not every judgment can be enforced immediately. As a rule, a judgment is enforced once it becomes final, unless provisional enforcement applies by law or by order of the court. Enforceable instruments are also not limited to judgments; they include payment orders, notarised instruments and settlement records ratified by the court.

Common Cases We Handle

• Enforcement of civil and commercial judgments, damages awards and monetary claims.
• Enforcement of payment orders, notarised instruments and court-ratified settlements.
• Enforcement of eviction and delivery judgments in lease and ownership disputes.
• Family judgments such as maintenance, which follow their own enforcement procedures; we identify the right route for each case.
• Enforcement disputes, whether you are the creditor seeking enforcement or the party against whom it is taken.

What We Do

• Review the judgment or instrument and determine whether it is enforceable now or needs a prior step.
• Obtain the enforceable copy and serve the enforceable instrument on the judgment debtor.
• Follow attachment and enforcement steps with the bailiffs and the court's enforcement office, against movables, real estate or the debtor's assets held by third parties, within the limits the law allows.
• Bring enforcement disputes before the enforcement judge, or respond to disputes raised against your enforcement.
• Follow the enforcement file through to collection or delivery, with written reports at each step.

How We Work

Send us a copy of the judgment or instrument and any notices or records you have received. We review them, identify the urgent step, and then agree a written fee arrangement with continuous follow-up. See the full engagement steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

I won my case. What do I need to do to have the judgment enforced?

A judgment is not enforced automatically. The first step is to confirm that the judgment is enforceable now. You then obtain the enforceable copy bearing the executory formula and serve it on the judgment debtor, after which enforcement proceeds through the court bailiffs, depending on the type of assets involved. Send us a copy of the judgment and we will tell you the next step.

Can I stop the enforcement of a judgment against me?

In certain cases, yes. The law gives the party against whom enforcement is taken ways to object, the best known being an enforcement dispute (ishkal) before the enforcement judge. A well-founded dispute may lead to a temporary stay of enforcement. The effect and the deadlines depend on the type of dispute and the state of the file, so it is important to act quickly and have the papers reviewed by a lawyer.

How long does enforcement take?

There is no fixed period. It depends on the type of enforceable instrument, the type of assets involved, and whether any disputes are raised. Once we have reviewed the file we can give you an initial estimate of the expected steps.

This content is general information and does not replace legal advice for your specific case, and it does not promise any outcome.