Court dunning procedure

The court dunning procedure (Mahnverfahren) is a simplified, fast procedure for collecting monetary claims in Germany – without an oral hearing.

How it works in 3 steps:

1. Apply for a payment order:

• Online via mahngerichte.de (barcode application) or www.online-mahnantrag.de
• Cost: depends on the amount in dispute (e.g. €36 for a €1,000 claim)
• Responsible: the local court at the applicant's place of residence
• No grounds or evidence required!

2. Service and response:

• The debtor has 14 days to object
• No objection → apply for an enforcement order (after 14 days at the earliest)
• Objection → normal court proceedings (you then have to prove your claim)

3. Enforcement order:

• Applied for after 14 days without objection
• The debtor has another 14 days to lodge an appeal
• No appeal → the enforcement order becomes final
• The bailiff can then seize assets

Advantages over a lawsuit:

• Faster: the payment order arrives in 1–3 weeks (lawsuit: months)
• Cheaper: a fraction of the cost of a lawsuit
• Simpler: online application, no grounds required
• Suspends limitation: interrupts the limitation period

Watch out: a payment order against YOU is not a judgment! If the claim is unjustified, be sure to lodge an objection within 14 days. Otherwise it becomes final – even if it's wrong.