A Clear, Practical Guide for Companies from the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and North America

If your company has won a court case abroad and the debtor is based in Spain—or holds assets here—you’ll need to take the next step: enforcing your foreign judgment in Spain.

This guide explains the full process of judgment enforcement in Spain, from legal requirements to cost recovery and strategic options. Whether you are a business owner, in-house counsel, or legal advisor, this article will help you understand your rights and next steps.

⚖️ We’re a Spanish law firm with years of experience in international enforcement proceedings. We represent UK, German, Swiss, Austrian, and North American companies and offer services in both English and German.

🇩🇪 Vollstreckung eines ausländischen Geldurteils in Spanien

Ein praktischer Leitfaden für Unternehmen aus dem Vereinigten Königreich, Deutschland, Österreich, der Schweiz und Nordamerika

Wenn Ihr Unternehmen in Ihrem Heimatland ein Urteil gegen ein spanisches Unternehmen erwirkt hat – und der Schuldner seinen Sitz oder Vermögenswerte in Spanien hat – ist der nächste Schritt die Vollstreckung dieses ausländischen Urteils in Spanien.

In diesem Leitfaden erfahren Sie alles Wichtige über die Urteilsvollstreckung in Spanien: die rechtlichen Voraussetzungen, das Verfahren, mögliche Sicherungsmaßnahmen sowie erstattungsfähige Kosten. Ganz gleich, ob Sie Unternehmer, Syndikusrechtsanwalt oder externer Berater sind – dieser Beitrag hilft Ihnen, Ihre Rechte durchzusetzen.

⚖️ Wir sind eine spanische Anwaltskanzlei mit langjähriger Erfahrung in der internationalen Urteilsvollstreckung. Wir vertreten Unternehmen aus dem Vereinigten Königreich, Deutschland, der Schweiz, Österreich und Nordamerika. Unser Team spricht fließend Englisch und Deutsch.

1. Is Your Foreign Judgment Enforceable in Spain?

The first step is determining whether your judgment qualifies for enforcement in Spain. This depends on where your original ruling was issued:

✅ Judgments from EU Countries (e.g., Germany, Austria)

If your court ruling was issued in an EU Member State (except Denmark) and falls under Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012 (Brussels I bis):

• No need for formal recognition (no exequatur required).
• You can proceed directly to enforcement.
• Required documents include:
  • A certified copy of the judgment.
  • A standard certificate (Annex I under the Regulation).

✅ Judgments from the UK, Switzerland, or Denmark

If the judgment comes from a non-EU country (like the UK after Brexit, Switzerland, or Denmark), you’ll need to go through an exequatur procedure in Spain before enforcing it:

• The Spanish court will confirm that:
  • The judgment is final and enforceable.
  • The debtor was properly notified.
  • The decision doesn’t violate Spanish public policy.
• Once the judgment is recognized, it becomes enforceable just like a Spanish court ruling, enabling asset seizure and other legal actions.

⏱️ Important: The exequatur process can take a few months, so early action is essential.

2. The Enforcement Process in Spain: Step by Step

💼 Can You Request Asset Seizure Right Away?

Yes. Spanish law allows creditors to request immediate enforcement measures—like freezing bank accounts or seizing property—as part of the same application.

If you provide specific asset information, the court can order precautionary seizures (embargo preventivo) from the start.

📝 Example request:

„The creditor respectfully requests the immediate precautionary seizure of the debtor’s bank accounts and real estate properties, as listed in the annexes, in accordance with Article 584 et seq. of the Spanish Civil Procedure Act.“

💰 What Assets Can Be Seized?

• Bank accounts in Spanish banks
• Real estate registered in the debtor’s name
• Vehicles (cars, vans, etc.)
• Outstanding invoices (accounts receivable)
• Shares in Spanish companies

🔍 We can help identify and locate these assets through official registries and court tools.

3. Legal Costs and Court Fees in Judgment Enforcement

💸 What Costs Can You Recover?

If enforcement succeeds, you can typically recover:

• ✅ Court filing fees (tasa judicial)
• ✅ Lawyer’s fees (as approved by the court)
• ✅ Procurador fees (Spanish court agents)
• ✅ Sworn translation costs, if required

⚖️ What Are the Court Fees?

You must pay these in advance when filing your enforcement request:

• €150 fixed fee
• 0.5% of the claimed amount (capped at €10,000)

Examples:

• €50,000 claim → €150 + €250 = €400
• €1,000,000 claim → €150 + €5,000 = €5,150

✅ If successful, the debtor can be ordered to reimburse these costs.

4. Legal Representation: Lawyer + Procurador

In Spain, judgment enforcement requires two legal professionals:

• A lawyer (abogado) to develop strategy and draft documents.
• A procurador, a court agent who files paperwork and communicates with the court.

📝 All documents must be translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator (traductor jurado).

5. What Documents Do You Need?

Before initiating enforcement, prepare:

• A copy of the judgment + enforcement certificate (if from the EU).
• Proof of service and enforceability.
• Debtor’s address or asset details in Spain.
• A Power of Attorney (POA) – we provide the template.

🖋️ The POA must be:

• Signed before a notary in your country.
• Apostilled under the Hague Convention.
• Or signed at a Spanish consulate.

6. Why Acting Fast Matters

Time is critical. If debtors are warned of enforcement too early, they might hide or transfer assets.

We act quickly to request:

• 🏦 Preventive seizures
• 🔐 Account attachments
• ⚠️ Interim court measures

🚀 We help secure your rights before assets disappear.

7. Can You Hold the Company Director Personally Liable?

Yes, in some cases. Spanish law lets creditors pursue director liability when:

• The company has no assets or was fraudulently emptied.
• There was:
  • Breach of fiduciary duties
  • Transfer or concealment of assets
  • Failure to dissolve the company despite insolvency

✅ This can be done alongside or after enforcing against the company itself.

8. Why Work With Us?

• ✔️ Proven track record enforcing foreign judgments in Spain
• ✔️ Fluent English and German-speaking lawyers
• ✔️ Nationwide presence and trusted local agents
• ✔️ Fast action and full transparency on costs

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📞 Ready to Enforce Your Judgment in Spain?

Don’t let a court victory go unpaid. With our help, you can enforce your judgment and recover what you’re legally owed.

📩 Contact us now for a consultation.

The faster you act, the more likely you are to succeed.