29 September 2026
Debt Collection in Luxembourg
This article contains information about debt recovery procedures in Luxembourg. Our lawyers in Luxembourg can help you with debt collection.
Our lawyers can help with the debt collection procedures in Luxembourg, especially the amicable debt recovery phase or the pre-court one.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Applicable law | Civil Law |
Other specific regulations that apply (YES/NO) | Law of 18 of April 2004 on interests on late payment of invoices and other EU Directives |
Types of debts that can be chased in Luxembourg | Commercial and non-commercial debts |
| Availability of out-of-court procedures (YES/NO) | Yes, amicable procedures are available in Luxembourg. |
| Availability of court proceedings (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Debt collection stages in Luxembourg | The amicable procedure which starts with contacting the debtor, settlement of the debt, or court proceedings, if the payment is not made. |
| Court in charge of debt collection procedures | – Magistrate’s courts for claims below EUR 15,000, – district courts for debts above EUR 15,000 |
| Existence of a minimum claim for court proceedings (YES/NO) | No, there is no minimum claim; EUR 15,000 is only the threshold between the Justice of the Peace and the District Court |
| Requirements before taking a debt collection case to court (if any) | The claimant must make sure the defenadant is not bankrupt. |
| Duration of amicable debt recovery process in Luxembourg (approx.) | Amicable procedures can be completed in a matter of days depending on how soon the parties agree on the payment. |
| Duration of debt recovery through court application (approx.) | The procedure can take between 1 and 3 months, depending on whether appeals are made. |
| Recognition of foreign court orders related to debt collection (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Possibility to use the services of debt collection agencies/lawyers (YES/NO) | Yes, it is possible to work with debt collection agencies. |
| Debt collection services available (YES/NO) | Yes, you can rely on our law firm in Luxembourg for support in debt recovery. |
| Types of services provided by our Luxembourg lawyers | Our lawyers can assist in both amicable and court proceedings. |
What debt collection services do your Luxembourg lawyers offer?
Here are some of the services provided by our lawyers in Luxembourg in connection with debt recovery:
- we are at the service of local and foreign companies trying to recover debts from individuals;
- we are also at the service of people who are indebted and want to make new payment settlements with their creditors;
- we also offer representation in court debt collection procedures, through the Payment of Order and Writ of Summons proceedings;
- we provide representation in debt recovery litigation, if no other solution applies.
What are the debt recovery procedures available in Luxembourg?
There are two ways of collecting a debt in Luxembourg:
- the amicable or out-of-court procedure;
- the judicial process.
The first procedure can be used for claims of any amount. For amounts exceeding this amount, there are various courts a claimant can file for debt recovery.
What debt recovery steps must I follow in Luxembourg?
We recommend that clients begin with the amicable procedure. It is less time-consuming and cheaper. Then, based on the value of the debt, our lawyers:
- will notify the debtor about taking the case to the Magistrate’s Court or District Court;
- gather all the evidence related to the case and submit it;
- obtain the payment order or summons to recover the outstanding amount.
It is also possible for the debtor to dispute the claim, in which case the procedure will imply a trial.
We also have an infographic on this topic:
What does amicable debt collection imply in Luxembourg?
The process implies:
- trying to reach the debtor by traditional mail, e-mail, and phone;
- sending dunning letters.
If the debtor replies, an agreement for the payment of the debt can be negotiated in favour of both parties.
What do payment orders and summons proceedings imply in terms of debt collection in Luxembourg?
Payment orders are usually issued for debts resulting from various contracts. The respective agreement must contain specific information about the amount to be recovered.
Summons proceedings apply when:
- the case is complex, and there is no precise way of determining the outstanding amount;
- the debt was challenged by the defendant.
Before the Justice of the Peace (claims up to EUR 15,000) parties may act without a lawyer; before the District Court in civil matters representation by an avocat à la Cour is required. Our Luxembourg law firm can offer court representation.
Are there any measures I should take before trying to recover a debt in Luxembourg?
Yes, you must first ensure the debtor is not bankrupt. Our law firm in Luxembourg can assist with checking the financial standing of the debtor.
Here is also a video on this subject:
What documents can I use to prove a debt in Luxembourg?
The court will accept:
- invoices;
- contracts;
- bank statements;
- purchase orders.
IMPORTANT! If an amicable recovery was attempted before, the correspondence with the debtor can also be used as evidence in the case.
What are the courts dealing with debt recovery proceedings in Luxembourg?
In the case of payment orders, when the disputed amount is below 15,000 EUR, the case is ruled by the Justice of Peace through the Magistrate’s Court.
If the simplified procedures are not accepted, the creditor may proceed by way of summons before the magistrate (Justice of Peace) or assignment before the district court to summon the debtor to the public hearing.
How long does it take to recover a debt in Luxembourg?
Here are the timelines:
- in the case of amicable debt recovery, the average time to settle is around 90 days;
- in the case of the rapid procedure, the payment order is issued in 30 days;
- summons can take up to 2 years, depending on whether the case is appealed or not.
You can contact our law firm in Luxembourg if you want to know more about debt collection or need any credit management services.