A German court has served your company with a payment order (Mahnbescheid) or a lawsuit, usually in a yellow envelope.
What matters now
- Deadlines run from service; the date is on the envelope, which should be kept.
- An objection to a payment order can be filed within two weeks. Otherwise an enforcement order follows, which can be enforced.
- For a lawsuit, the court sets short deadlines for notifying the intention to defend and for the statement of defence. Representation by a lawyer is mandatory before the regional courts.
- No partial payments and no statements to the other side before the situation has been checked: they may be treated as an acknowledgement.
Documents I need
- the payment order or lawsuit with the envelope and all enclosures
- contract, invoices and correspondence on the claim
- proof of payment
- your own counterclaims, for example for defects
Next steps
Send me the documents by email to kanzlei@bauer.legal or use the appointment request, and mention any deadline that is running. I usually reply within one working day and let you know how things can proceed. You can write to me in English or German. If the deadline is close, it is best to call: +49 33365 784007. How we work together and how fees are charged is explained under How we work together.
More: Civil and commercial law.
This page gives a general overview of German law and does not replace advice on the individual case.