Debt Collection and Enforcement Lawyer in Bulgaria
I began my career in enforcement and order-for-payment work before moving into corporate practice, and still act for creditors pursuing Bulgarian debtors — including foreign creditors enforcing a judgment obtained elsewhere in the European Union.
The route matters: the order-for-payment procedure is fast and inexpensive but collapses if the debtor objects, at which point the claim converts into ordinary litigation. Choosing correctly at the outset saves months.
What I handle
Typical matters
- A supplier owed on unpaid invoices. Assessment of whether the order-for-payment route is viable, and escalation to enforcement.
- A foreign creditor holding an EU judgment. Recognition in Bulgaria and enforcement against the debtor’s local assets.
- A secured creditor enforcing a mortgage. Enforcement over the property and participation in the public sale.
- A debtor facing improper enforcement. Objection to the enforcement action and challenge to bailiff conduct.
Frequently asked
What's the quickest way to get an enforceable title against a debtor who won't pay?
The order-for-payment procedure — Articles 410 or 417 of the Civil Procedure Code, depending on what documentation you hold — is the standard route. It's available for any money claim, requires no hearing, and is materially faster than full litigation provided the debtor doesn't object.
I hold a judgment from another EU country — do I need to start over in Bulgaria?
No. Under the Brussels I Recast Regulation, a judgment from one Member State is recognised in the others without a separate procedure, and can be presented directly to a Bulgarian enforcement agent together with the standard certificate issued by the court of origin.
Once I have an enforceable title, what can actually be recovered?
A private enforcement agent can attach the debtor's bank accounts and salary above a protected minimum, seize and auction movable property, register a judicial mortgage and force the sale of real property, and attach money owed to the debtor by its own customers or tenants. The full guide to the process is linked below.
Guides on this area
Discuss your matter
Describe the situation and I will tell you what is involved, what it is likely to cost, and whether you need a lawyer at all.
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