Maßnahmen der Zwangsvollstreckung - Geldforderung Enforcement measures (Zwangsvollstreckung) - monetary claim

• Vollstreckungstitel (enforcement title) As the creditor, you must have a Vollstreckungstitel (enforcement title) (a court decision with enforceable content). Examples include judgments, Vollstreckungsbescheide (enforcement orders) issued as the result of a Mahnverfahren (payment order procedure), Kostenfestsetzungsbeschlüsse (cost assessment decisions), court settlements, and notarial deeds. These documents must be served. • Vollstreckungsklausel (certificate of enforceability) As the creditor, you must have a Vollstreckungsklausel (certificate of enforceability). The clause is a note on the Vollstreckungstitel that permits you to carry out compulsory enforcement against the debtor. It reads, for example: "The above certified copy is issued to the plaintiff for the purpose of compulsory enforcement." These documents must be served. • The Vollstreckungsklausel is generally issued on request by the body that issued the Vollstreckungstitel. It must bear the official title, be signed, and be sealed. • Exceptions: For Vollstreckungsbescheide from the German Mahnverfahren, and a few other exceptions, no Vollstreckungsklausel is required. • Service of the Vollstreckungstitel on the debtor The Vollstreckungstitel must be served on the other party before, or at the same time as, the start of compulsory enforcement. • Judgments and decisions are generally served ex officio by the court. The corresponding service is then certified on the Vollstreckungstitel or in the Vollstreckungsklausel. • For non-judicial Vollstreckungstitel, service must be arranged by you, for example by instructing the Gerichtsvollzieher/in (bailiff) accordingly in the Vollstreckungsauftrag (enforcement instruction). • Special requirements for compulsory enforcement For some Vollstreckungstitel, compulsory enforcement may not begin until two weeks after service. These Vollstreckungstitel include: • Kostenfestsetzungsbeschlüsse (cost assessment decisions) that are not part of the judgment, • decisions in the simplified procedure regarding maintenance for minors, • settlements concluded before a lawyer and declared enforceable, • certain notarial or judicial deeds. Where the judgment gives rise to further special requirements (provision of security, or Zug-um-Zug-Vollstreckung (enforcement conditional on simultaneous performance)), the Gerichtsvollzieher/in (bailiff) will inform you about this.

• Vollstreckungsauftrag (enforcement order) to the bailiff (Gerichtsvollzieher/in) (under "Forms") • On the form, you can use checkboxes to specify what the bailiff should do for you. • You can also submit the enforcement order via the Elektronisches Gerichts- und Verwaltungspostfach (EGVP, electronic court and administration mailbox) (under "Further information"). • Vollstreckungstitel (enforcement title, original) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__754a.html e.g. judgments, Vollstreckungsbescheide (enforcement orders resulting from a Mahnverfahren, dunning procedure), Kostenfestsetzungsbeschlüsse (cost assessment decisions), court settlements and notarial deeds • If the enforcement title has not yet been served, also check the box for service (Zustellung) on the order. • You must already hold an enforcement title. • If you have a Vollstreckungsbescheid from the Mahnverfahren and wish to enforce no more than 5,000.00 euros, you can also apply for this enforcement by a secure electronic route and only need to attach a scanned copy of this Vollstreckungsbescheid. • Vollstreckungsklausel (enforcement clause, original) • Forderungsaufstellung (statement of claim) If you have incurred further costs, e.g. previous enforcement costs, or received payments, please state this in a Forderungsaufstellung. • Evidence You must prove the costs named in the Forderungsaufstellung by enclosing supporting documents. • Assurance regarding the existence of the claim If you submit the enforcement order electronically via the court's EGVP, you must assure that you hold a certified copy of the Vollstreckungsbescheid together with proof of service, and that the claim still exists in the amount applied for.

• Vollstreckungsauftrag (enforcement instruction) to the Gerichtsvollzieher/in (bailiff) www.bmj.de/DE/service/formulare/form_zwangsvollstreckung/for

• 25.00 to 200.00 euros: fees per order, depending on the case • Additional expenses may be added, for example for service of documents, witnesses, information charges, locksmiths, storage. • For the proceedings you can apply for Prozess- or Verfahrenskostenhilfe (legal aid) (under "Further information").

• Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) [Code of Civil Procedure] § 754 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__754.html • Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) [Code of Civil Procedure] § 754 a www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__754a.html • Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) [Code of Civil Procedure] § 755 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__755.html • Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) [Code of Civil Procedure] §§ 802 a, d, l, f www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/BJNR005330950.html#BJNR005330

Processing time is generally 3 months.

• Elektronisches Gerichts- und Verwaltungspostfach (EGVP, electronic court and administration mailbox) egvp.justiz.de/ • Apply for Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenhilfe (legal aid for court and other legal proceedings costs) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327008/ • Forms for Zwangsvollstreckung (compulsory enforcement) (Federal Ministry of Justice) www.bmj.de/DE/service/formulare/form_zwangsvollstreckung/for • Compulsory enforcement measures - Herausgabevollstreckung (enforcement of surrender) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327713/

The Amtsgericht (local court) at the debtor's place of residence, or where the enforcement measure is to take place. For companies, the Amtsgericht (local court) at the debtor's registered office.