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Germany Debt Collection Guide

Filing fees, claim limits, demand letter requirements, court process, service rules, and enforcement options for collecting money in Germany. Verify local court rules before filing.

Verified
Source checked: 2026-04-29
Official source
Court
Amtsgericht (Local Court) - Mahnverfahren (Payment Order Procedure)
Filing Fee
Calculated by the Online-Mahnantrag portal based on claim value
Claim Limit
No limit for Mahnverfahren; Amtsgericht handles up to ~$5,500 USD (EUR 5,000) for regular proceedings
Timeline
2-6 weeks (if no objection)

Filing Instructions

  1. 1File a Mahnantrag (application for payment order) online via mahngerichte.de
  2. 2Pay court fee (calculated based on claim value)
  3. 3Court issues Mahnbescheid (payment order) to debtor
  4. 4Debtor has 14 days to object (Widerspruch)
  5. 5If no objection, request Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order)
  6. 6If debtor objects, case transfers to regular court proceedings

Required Forms

  • - Mahnantrag (Application for Payment Order)

Service Rules

Court serves the Mahnbescheid by registered post (Zustellung).

Legal Basis

Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) sections 688-703d

Enforcement Options

  • - Pfandungs- und Uberweisungsbeschluss (garnishment order)
  • - Gerichtsvollzieher (judicial officer seizure)
  • - Zwangsvollstreckung in Immobilien (forced sale of property)
  • - Eidesstattliche Versicherung (asset disclosure under oath)

Online Filing Portal

https://www.online-mahnantrag.de

Important Notes

The Mahnverfahren is an efficient payment-order process for money claims. A prior reminder is commercially sensible, but the official filing path is the Mahnantrag through the German payment-order system.

Start with a demand letter

Document the claim before escalating to a court or tribunal.

Start Your Case