When foreign companies need enforcement in Germany

Typical situations include:

• You have a judgment from your home country against a German customer or supplier
• You have a European judgment and the debtor’s assets are located in Germany
• You have obtained an order to pay and want to reach German bank accounts or property
• You have already tried to collect abroad, but the debtor only has assets in Germany

In all these cases, you need to convert your foreign judgment into a basis for enforcement under German law.

Can a foreign court judgment be enforced in Germany?

In many cases, yes.

German law provides mechanisms for the recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments. For some countries and regions – especially within the European Union – there are international or European rules that simplify or replace a separate recognition procedure.

The key questions are:

• From which country is the judgment?
• In what type of proceedings was it issued?
• Is the judgment final, or can it still be appealed
• Does it comply with minimum standards of due process?

These points determine how and under which procedure enforcement in Germany is possible.

What must be clarified before starting enforcement in Germany

Before taking steps in Germany, the following must be assessed:

• Whether the foreign judgment can be recognised under German law
• Which German court is responsible for the recognition and enforcement decision
• Which documents and translations are required
• Where the debtor’s assets are located in Germany

A strong judgment is not enough if the enforcement path is weak. A clear enforcement plan is essential before you invest time and money.

How enforcement of foreign judgments works in practice

Enforcement in Germany typically follows two stages:

First, depending on the country of origin, the foreign judgment either needs to be recognised and declared enforceable by a German court or can be used under a simplified European procedure without a separate declaration of enforceability.

Second, based on this declaration of enforceability, concrete enforcement measures can be taken, for example:

• Seizure of bank accounts
• Garnishment of claims against third parties
• Enforcement against movable or immovable property

Each step must comply with German procedural rules.
If these rules are not followed precisely, enforcement can be delayed or blocked.

How I assist foreign companies in enforcing judgments in Germany

I am a German litigation lawyer focused on commercial disputes and on enforcing claims for foreign companies in Germany.

My work in enforcement cases is structured:

First, I review whether and how the foreign judgment can be recognised in Germany.

Second, I identify suitable German courts and enforcement measures.

Third, I coordinate the recognition proceedings and the concrete enforcement steps against assets in Germany.

The goal is not symbolic enforcement. The goal is actual recovery.

Common mistakes in cross-border enforcement

Foreign companies often make the following mistakes:

• They try to enforce directly with a bailiff in Germany without first clarifying whether recognition or a specific European procedure is required
• They do not provide complete or properly translated documents
• They underestimate how detailed German courts assess foreign judgments
• They start enforcement without checking where the debtor’s assets are

These mistakes cost time and reduce pressure on the debtor.

Costs and risks of enforcing a foreign judgment in Germany

Court fees and lawyers’ fees in Germany are linked to the amount in dispute and are regulated by law.

In enforcement cases, the real question is not only the cost level, but the ratio between cost and recovery:

• Does the debtor still have assets in Germany
• How likely is it that enforcement measures will be successful?
• Which enforcement steps are proportionate to the claim size?

A realistic assessment at the beginning helps avoid empty enforcement.

When you should act

You should seek legal assessment in Germany if:

• You already hold a court judgment against a German company
• You know or suspect that the debtor has assets in Germany
• You have tried to collect abroad without success
• Time limits for enforcement might be approaching under your local law

In enforcement, time often works against the creditor. Assets can disappear.

German litigation lawyer for foreign companies

I assist foreign companies in having their foreign court judgments recognised and enforced in Germany.

Focus of my work:

• Recognition and enforcement of foreign commercial court judgments in Germany
• Enforcement strategy against assets of German debtors
• Court proceedings related to enforcement disputes