Debt recovery · Czechia and Slovakia
Cross-border debt recovery
A Czech customer has not paid a Slovak business, or a Slovak debtor owes money to a Czech company? We assess the claim and options in both countries. Patrik Tulinský is registered with both Bars and manages the matter from Slovakia. We arrange any necessary attendance in Czechia, for example at a hearing. You have one contact.
- Lawyer registered with both Czech and Slovak Bars
- One firm for both countries
- Approach and price confirmed in advance
What we'll do for you
We structure the approach according to the state of the claim, from an amicable demand to enforcement. We agree in advance which steps make sense and confirm every further step before any costs arise.
Select an item to see the details.
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Assessment of the claim and debtor
We check the legal status of the claim and limitation risk. We also build a financial picture of the debtor from public sources in both countries: enforcement, insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, VAT status including registration as an unreliable VAT payer, and available financial statements. We examine trends in revenue, profitability, indebtedness and equity, rather than simply checking whether the company formally exists.
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Lawyer's demand
A demand in the debtor’s language, prepared under the law applicable to the claim. That law is not determined automatically by the debtor’s registered office; we separately assess the appropriate court and procedure. Some debtors pay upon receiving it, as they treat a lawyer’s demand differently from the creditor’s own reminders.
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Payment order
An application to a court in Slovakia (electronic payment order procedure) or Czechia (payment order), and representation throughout the proceedings.
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Enforcement
After obtaining an enforceable title, we prepare the enforcement application and communicate with the enforcement officer in the relevant country.
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Insolvency and bankruptcy
If the debtor becomes insolvent, we lodge your claim in the proceedings and monitor deadlines.
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Regular updates
You know about each step in advance, including its costs. No action without your consent.
Deliverablepayment recovered, an enforceable title or a clear recommendation on whether to continue
How it works
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- You send the documentsday 0
Email us the invoices, contract and correspondence with the debtor. Include evidence of delivery if available. We agree any need for further documents or translations after reviewing them.
- Assessment and plantypically within 24 h
We check the debtor and claim and propose an approach, including fees. The outcome need not be a claim. It may be that more documents are needed first, or that further investment in the matter makes no sense. You pay nothing until you agree.
- Lawyer's demand
We send the debtor a demand in their language with a clear payment deadline. If they pay, the matter ends there.
- Court proceedings
If the debtor does not pay, we agree the next steps and, based on the documents, apply to the appropriate court. The outcome also depends on the evidence and the debtor’s defence.
- Enforcement or insolvency
We complete recovery through enforcement. If the debtor becomes insolvent in the meantime, we lodge the claim in the insolvency proceedings.
Who is the creditor and where is the debtor based?
For a Slovak creditor with a Czech customer, see debt recovery in Czechia. For a Czech creditor with a Slovak customer, see debt recovery in Slovakia. A cross-border approach cannot be chosen solely from the debtor’s address.
We assess applicable law and the appropriate court separately. Choice of law, the type of performance and a jurisdiction agreement may matter. The legal framework includes Articles 3 and 4 of Rome I and Articles 4, 7 and 25 of Brussels I bis. The specific approach depends on the contract and circumstances.
What we need to assess the claim
Alongside invoices and the contract, send orders, delivery notes or confirmation that services were accepted. Tell us what has been paid, when the balance fell due, and whether the debtor disputes performance or the amount, or has proposed instalments. If proceedings are underway, include decisions received and information on service.
How we agree the approach and price
We distinguish fees for each phase from court fees, translations and other expenses. Before the next phase you know the proposed scope and anticipated costs. Depending on the circumstances, a pre-action demand may be the first step; sending a demand does not guarantee payment. See also how to recover an unpaid invoice.
When further action may not be worthwhile
We weigh further investment especially where evidence of delivery is weak, the debtor has substantial objections, the debt is small relative to costs, or the debtor has insufficient assets. Register data has limits and does not by itself confirm an ability to pay. Winning in court does not guarantee actual recovery.
We may therefore recommend gathering more documents, negotiating payment, continuing proceedings or taking no further recovery action. Send documents for assessment.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We usually reply within 24 hours with a price confirmation and next steps. The first 30-minute consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
- 1Send your enquiry via this form
- 2Usually within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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Or email us about this matter.
What clients ask
Didn’t find your question? Ask us directly →
Is it worth recovering a claim in the other country?
It depends on the documents, debt value, the debtor’s defence and their assets. Before the next step we compare the expected benefit and costs. We may recommend gathering further evidence or taking recovery no further.
How does a success-related fee work?
For suitable claims, we agree a lower fixed component and a fee payable only from the amount actually recovered. We assess whether your claim suits this model during the initial checks. We always agree the terms in advance and in writing.
Do I need a lawyer in the debtor's country?
You do not need to find another firm yourself. Patrik Tulinský is registered with the Czech and Slovak Bars and manages the matter from Slovakia. We arrange any necessary attendance in Czechia, for example at a hearing, and confirm the cost in advance.
The debtor says they have no money. Is recovery worthwhile?
That is precisely why we check their circumstances in public registers before starting. We examine the commercial register, financial statements, insolvency and enforcement records, and whether the debtor appears in the register of unreliable VAT payers. Depending on the result, we recommend recovery, waiting or writing off the claim.
What if the debtor enters insolvency or bankruptcy?
We lodge your claim in the proceedings and monitor deadlines. In insolvency, timely lodging of the claim is decisive. Even partial payment is better than a missed deadline.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on the debtor's response. Some claims are paid after the lawyer's demand; court proceedings and enforcement take longer and their pace is influenced by the court. At the outset, you receive a realistic estimate for your case. We do not promise timescales beyond our control.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
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An international freight invoice has a six-month payment term. When is the claim time-barred under CMR?
Generally after one year. For freight charges, the limitation period starts three months after the carriage contract was concluded, not when the invoice falls due: with a six-month payment term, it is already running long before you can send a reminder. A time-barred CMR claim cannot even be raised by counterclaim or defence, so decide when to sue by reference to the contract date, not payment reminders.
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How does a European order for payment work, and what do we need for Form A?
A European order for payment is a uniform EU procedure for cross-border monetary claims. Applications use Form A under Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2006, and the court issues the order without a hearing, normally within 30 days. The defendant may object within 30 days of service without giving reasons. The case then continues as ordinary proceedings unless you stated you did not want this. Prepare precise party details, principal, interest and costs, claim basis codes and evidence descriptions.
Read the answer -
We have a final Swiss judgment. How do we enforce it in Slovakia?
In two stages. Switzerland is outside the EU, so the 2007 Lugano Convention applies rather than Brussels Ia: a Slovak court must first declare the judgment enforceable before an enforcement application can be filed. You need the judgment, an Annex V certificate from the court of origin and, if requested by the court, a certified translation of the necessary documents. This procedure must be completed before final recovery; however, provisional and protective measures under Article 47 may protect assets at an earlier stage.
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Further reading
A Czech company with a Slovak debtor: four rules that work differently in Slovakia
A Czech company recovering an invoice in Slovakia naturally proceeds on Czech habits. Slovak law, however, ties costs to a pre-action demand differently, regulates the debtor's defence against a payment order differently, allocates the enforcement officer differently and calculates accessories differently. An overview for creditors from Czechia before the first step.
Read more →
Freight charges from a foreign customer: where to sue under the CMR Convention, under which law and how to enforce the judgment
A Slovak carrier has performed carriage abroad and the customer from another state is not paying. The CMR Convention gives it a wider choice of courts than an ordinary commercial contract, including the court of the state where the goods were loaded. We explain how to choose the court, which law governs interest and how the judgment is enforced in the debtor's state.
Read more →
A Slovak, Czech or European payment order: what to choose when the debtor is based across the Czech-Slovak border
A Slovak company with a Czech customer, or a Czech company with a Slovak customer, has three routes for an undisputed invoice: a national payment order in the debtor's state, a national order at home with enforcement across the border, or a European order for payment. We compare where proceedings can be brought, how the debtor can defend, how service works and what enforcement requires.
Read more →