Day 1: your collection agency sends a formal demand to the Spanish debtor. Day 14: no response. Day 21: a Spanish attorney issues a pre-legal warning. Day 35: monitorio payment order filed. Day 55: court issues the order. Day 75: debtor still hasn't paid or contested — you now hold an enforceable judgment.
That's the fast version. Here's what happens at each stage and what determines whether your case follows the quick route or the long one.
Stage 1: The Formal Demand
Every legal recovery in Spain begins with a formal demand — a written communication establishing that the debt is due, the creditor has attempted collection, and legal proceedings will follow if payment isn't made.
This isn't a formality. Spanish courts look favourably on creditors who can demonstrate a good-faith attempt at amicable resolution before filing. The demand should specify the exact amount owed (including any accrued statutory interest under Ley 15/2010), reference the contract and invoices, set a clear payment deadline (typically 10–15 days), and state that legal proceedings will be initiated if the deadline passes.
A demand issued by a Spanish attorney carries more weight than one from a foreign law firm. The reason is straightforward: a Spanish attorney can actually file the case they're threatening. A foreign lawyer cannot.
Stage 2: The Monitorio Payment Order
Spain's monitorio procedure is the workhorse of commercial debt recovery. Designed for undisputed debts where the creditor holds documentary evidence, it provides a fast-track route to an enforceable court order without full trial proceedings.
Filing requirements: a petition to the Juzgado de Primera Instancia or Juzgado de lo Mercantil in the debtor's jurisdiction, supported by the contract, invoices, delivery documentation, and proof of the outstanding balance. The filing costs are modest and proportional to the claim amount.
If the debtor doesn't respond (20 days): the court issues a payment order, which becomes enforceable immediately. This is the fast track — and it's where well-documented commercial debts typically end up. Debtors who ignore the monitorio generally do so because they have no valid defence, and the court proceeds accordingly.
If the debtor contests: the case converts to ordinary civil proceedings (juicio verbal for claims under €6,000, juicio ordinario for larger amounts). This adds 6–18 months to the timeline and increases legal costs. The debtor's contest must include substantive grounds — a blanket denial without supporting evidence rarely succeeds.
Stage 3: Enforcement
An enforceable judgment or uncontested monitorio order gives the creditor access to Spain's enforcement mechanisms: bank account garnishment (embargo de cuentas), seizure of assets, interception of receivables, and in some cases, registration of charges against the debtor's property.
Enforcement is where the Spanish system can frustrate creditors. Identifying the debtor's assets is the creditor's responsibility (though experienced agencies have tools and contacts for asset tracing). The court processes enforcement applications, but actual execution — locating and seizing assets — requires proactive management by the creditor's legal team.
For well-capitalised debtors, enforcement is usually straightforward: the debtor pays rather than face account seizure and the commercial embarrassment of a registered court judgment. For debtors in financial difficulty, enforcement becomes a race against other creditors and the potential onset of formal insolvency proceedings.
Realistic Timelines
Amicable resolution: 30–90 days. Monitorio (uncontested): 20–40 days from filing. Monitorio (contested, escalated to trial): 6–18 months. Enforcement of uncontested order: 1–3 months. Enforcement of contested judgment: 3–12 months.
The total timeline from first demand to money in your account ranges from 45 days (best case, amicable resolution) to 24+ months (contested, with enforcement complications). This is why the amicable phase matters so much — it's not just faster, it's exponentially cheaper and more predictable.
FAQ
Can I start legal proceedings from abroad, or do I need a Spanish representative?
You need a Spanish attorney (abogado) and a court representative (procurador) to file proceedings in Spanish courts. Your collection agency typically coordinates both. You don't need to be physically present in Spain at any point — the process is managed entirely by your in-country legal team.
What happens if the debtor enters insolvency during legal proceedings?
If the debtor files for concurso de acreedores (insolvency), all individual enforcement actions are automatically stayed. Your claim becomes part of the insolvency proceedings, and recovery depends on the debtor's assets and the priority ranking of your claim. This is one reason early legal action can be valuable — establishing a court judgment before insolvency strengthens your position as a creditor.
María Solé
💥 Madrid-based Legal Counsel / Spanish Commercial Law & Cross-Border Enforcement Specialist
