Step-by-step guide to debt recovery

1. Check your documents and proof

• Do you have a contract, invoice, emails?

• Proof of delivery or service provided?

• Any room for the debtor to dispute?

👉 Without evidence, your chances are low. Relying on verbal agreements is the #1 mistake.

2. Try informal contact

• Call, write, remind them of the debt.

• Politely mention legal steps.

• Some debtors forget – others avoid.

👉 The tone of the first message often reveals a lot.

3. Send a formal demand letter (pre-lawsuit notice)

• Clear, firm, with a payment deadline (e.g., 7 days).

• Send by registered mail or confirmed email.

• A letter from a lawyer makes a big difference.

👉 A well-written notice often works better than a lawsuit.

4. File a lawsuit if they don’t respond

• Use a payment order – faster and cheaper in small claims.

• Or file a standard claim with supporting documents.

👉 A payment order is often ideal for amounts up to ~CZK 100,000.

5. Get a court decision

• Either a judgment or payment order must become final.

• Only then can you enforce it.

👉 Winning a case doesn’t bring your money back – enforcement does.

6. Request enforcement (execution)

• If the debtor still doesn’t pay.

• A bailiff can seize funds, salary, or property.

• In some cases, a notarial deed allows direct enforcement.

👉 Enforcement is not revenge – it’s a legal right.

Real example from practice

💬 Client delivered a website. The debtor stopped responding. She had emails and an invoice. Sent a demand letter – no reply. Filed for payment order. Debtor paid within 14 days. Legal fees were added to the debt.

Lawyer’s tip

The longer you wait, the worse your chances. Be smart – act early and carefully. The biggest mistake? Using free templates without legal review and hoping it’ll work. Sometimes a short consultation saves you thousands.