Enforcement proceedings
Winning a court case does not always mean getting paid. We help make sure the judgment is actually complied with, or defend you if the seizure is against you.
What it involves
Enforcement (ejecución) is the step taken when someone does not voluntarily comply with a judgment, an agreement approved by the judge or another enforceable title: paying a debt, handing over an asset or paying maintenance. The court can order the seizure of bank accounts, salaries, vehicles or property until what is owed is covered.
Is this your case?
- You won a court case, but the debtor still has not paid.
- Your ex-partner is not complying with what you signed in the divorce agreement (convenio regulador).
- Your salary or bank account has been seized and you think it is wrong or excessive.
- You have a judgment from another country and want it to be enforced in Spain.
How we help
We apply to the court for enforcement and request a search for the debtor's assets. We follow up on the seizures so that the money reaches you. If you are the person against whom enforcement is sought, we review whether there are grounds to oppose it, whether the limits on what cannot be seized are being respected and whether it is possible to negotiate a payment plan. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
If you do not yet have a judgment, you can start with an order for payment procedure, and if what is not being paid is your children's maintenance, see child support.
Frequently asked questions
- How much of my salary can be seized?
- The law protects part of your salary, which cannot be seized, and the rest is seized progressively depending on what you earn and your family responsibilities. We check that the seizure respects those limits.
- What happens if the debtor has no assets in their name?
- The court can keep looking for assets or income later on, and enforcement can move forward if they appear. Don't let it lapse: there is a time limit for applying for it and it is worth keeping an eye on it.
- Can a judgment issued in my country be enforced in Spain?
- In many cases, yes, although it may first need to be recognised in Spain (exequatur), depending on the country of origin. We review your judgment and explain the way forward.
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Tell us about your case.
A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.
We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.