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Debt recovery

Debt recovery lawyer in Luxembourg

The firm recovers your unpaid invoices in Luxembourg and internationally: formal notice, payment order, court proceedings and forced enforcement.

In short

Debt recovery in Luxembourg follows four stages: formal notice, order for payment, judicial proceedings on the merits, then enforcement. Cerno Law Firm conducts each of them, in Luxembourg and internationally. The older the debt, the harder and costlier recovery becomes.

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Maître Cora Maglo, Avocate à la CourResponsible for legal content: Maître Cora Maglo, Avocate à la Cour, Liste I du Barreau de Luxembourg depuis 2009. · Applicable law: Luxembourg

Debt recovery lawyer in Luxembourg: key points at a glance

Fees, timeframes, documents and deliverables
ItemWhat to know
FeesFees proportionate to the stake. A fixed fee for the formal notice, then fees by stage. Costs are stated in advance.
Indicative timingThe formal notice goes out within a few days. A payment order can succeed within a few weeks where the debt is not contested.
Documents required
  • Invoices and purchase orders
  • The contract or general terms and conditions
  • Reminders already sent
Deliverables
  • A formal notice
  • Payment order or summons proceedings
  • Tracking of enforcement

An unpaid debt weighs directly on your cash flow. The longer you wait, the harder and costlier recovery becomes.

The firm selects the fastest and most economical procedure depending on the amount, the debtor and their location.

Unpaid invoice: which debt recovery route fits?

Debt collection is not a mandatory sequence of four steps. The choice depends on whether the debt is disputed, the evidence, amount, debtor location and likelihood of enforcement.

Debt situationKey evidenceInitial decision
Overdue invoice, apparently undisputedInvoice, contract, delivery evidence, remindersReminder, formal notice or an appropriate legal process?
Invoice contested on performanceObjections, correspondence, contract, proof of workWhat is disputed and how well is the claim evidenced?
Debtor abroad or experiencing distressLocation, jurisdiction, guarantees, available solvency dataWhich cross-border route and how enforceable is an outcome?

A formal notice is not compulsory before every action. Payment-order and enforcement procedures have specific requirements.

Guichet.lu — debt recovery procedures

Discuss my situation with a lawyer

Debt recovery lawyer in Luxembourg: when should you call on the firm?

Unpaid invoices, debtors who go quiet, internal reminders that have no effect.

Without a structured escalation, the debt ages and the risk of non-recovery grows.

What happens if you do nothing?

An unclaimed debt becomes time-barred; a debtor can organise their own insolvency while you wait.

Recovering late costs more and reduces your chances of full payment.

How does the firm step in?

A firm formal notice, then, if necessary, a payment order or a summons, through to forced enforcement by a bailiff.

For cross-border debts, the firm uses the European instruments (European payment order, European Enforcement Order).

Practice areas

When to call on the firm

  • Formally chase a debtor through a lawyer's formal notice.
  • Obtain a payment order in Luxembourg.
  • Recover a debt against a debtor based abroad.
  • Enforce a judgment or a title.

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Describe your need

Select your issue, answer a few simple questions and share your documents if needed.

What you get

  • Initial qualification of the case
  • List of useful documents
  • Secure transmission
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What reassures our clients

Confidentiality

Lawyer’s professional secrecy.

Speed

Start your case online 24/7.

Transparency

Fees communicated before engagement.

Expertise

Review by a lawyer of the Luxembourg Bar.

Simplicity

Under 5 minutes to open your case.

Fees proportionate to the stake

A fixed fee for the formal notice, then fees by stage. Costs are stated in advance.

See fees for this area
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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

From what amount should you call on a lawyer?

A lawyer's formal notice is worthwhile even for modest amounts, as it gives credibility to the claim. For larger or contested amounts, court proceedings become relevant.

How do you recover against a debtor abroad?

To recover against a debtor abroad, the firm uses the European instruments (European payment order, European Enforcement Order) and coordinates enforcement in the debtor's country.

What if the debtor contests the debt?

If the debtor contests the debt, the matter shifts to litigation on the merits, where the firm defends your claim with the available evidence.

When should you send a formal notice?

As soon as an unpaid invoice persists despite reminders. The formal notice sets a payment deadline, triggers late-payment interest and is a key step before any court action.

How much does recovery proceedings cost?

The formal notice is charged on a fixed-fee basis from EUR 450 excluding tax. The court phase depends on the amount and the complexity; the cost is stated before any commitment, and part of the costs may, depending on the case, be charged to the debtor.

Can late-payment interest be recovered?

Yes. In commercial matters, late-payment interest and a fixed recovery indemnity are in principle due, in addition to the principal. The contract and the terms of sale often specify the rate.

What is the limitation period for a commercial debt?

It varies according to the nature of the debt. Acting quickly is essential: once the limitation period has passed, the right to demand payment is lost. A prompt review of the file secures your rights.

What should you do if the debtor is bankrupt?

The creditor must file its claim in the collective proceedings and defend its interests with the administrator or receiver. The firm assists with this filing and the follow-up of the proceedings.

How do you recover an international debt?

Depending on the debtor, through the European order for payment, the European enforcement regulations or coordination with a local partner firm. Cerno manages these cross-border matters.

Quick answer

How do you recover an unpaid invoice in Luxembourg?

Recovering a debt begins with a review of the file and a formal notice. In the absence of payment, the creditor can bring court proceedings to obtain an enforceable decision and recover the sums due, late-payment interest and certain costs.

Our approach

A pragmatic reading of every case

Our aim is not only to explain the rule, but to identify the most effective route to your objectives. Every matter is analysed from three angles.

Legal risk

The applicable rule, deadlines and possible points of dispute.

Operational risk

The concrete impact on your business, your contracts and your organisation.

Financial risk

The cost of a decision, a dispute or inaction, quantified upfront.

Expertise

Our recovery method

File review

  • Contracts and purchase orders
  • Invoices
  • Acknowledgements of debt
  • Correspondence between the parties
  • Debtor's solvency

Formal notice

  • Obtaining swift payment
  • Preserving the commercial relationship
  • Demonstrating the creditor's determination

Amicable negotiation

  • Payment schedules
  • Settlement protocols
  • Guarantees
  • Settlement agreements

Court action

  • Commercial Court
  • Order for payment
  • Attachments
  • Enforcement of decisions

International recovery

  • France, Belgium, Germany
  • European order for payment
  • Coordination with partner firms
  • Cross-border enforcement

Debtor insolvency

  • Filing of claims
  • Collective proceedings
  • Liquidation
  • Negotiation with the administrator

Typical situations

The engagements we handle in this area

Unpaid invoices between companies

Formal notice followed by a negotiation securing payment without proceedings.

Foreign debtor

Coordination with a partner firm in the relevant jurisdiction.

Debtor in financial difficulty

Protection of the creditor's interests in collective proceedings.

Commercial dispute

Obtaining an enforceable decision and then enforced execution.

Illustrative situations describing types of engagement, not identifiable client matters or results obtained. Every matter is handled and validated by a lawyer registered with the Luxembourg Bar.

They entrust us with their cases

Varied profiles, the same standard of excellence

  • Entrepreneurs setting up their company in Luxembourg
  • International investors
  • SME executives
  • International groups
  • Expatriates and international families
  • Employers recruiting foreign talent

Member of

Affiliations & professional networks

  • Barreau de Luxembourg
  • European Immigration Lawyers Network (EILN)
  • Union des Avocats Européens (AEA)
  • Cross Border Advisory Solutions
  • Institut Luxembourgeois des Administrateurs (ILA)
  • Association Luxembourgeoise des Juristes de Droit Bancaire (ALJB)

Free guide · PDF

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Checklists, key steps and points to watch, prepared by the firm. Get it instantly, no strings attached.

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  • The documents to prepare
  • The common mistakes to avoid
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Written by Maître Cora Maglo, attorney at law.

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Founded in 2013; Maître Cora Maglo has been admitted to the Luxembourg Bar since 2009

2013
independent firm
2009
at the Bar since 2009
4,7/5
81 Google reviewsRead reviews

Expertise & authority

Ongoing review and analysis of Luxembourg and European case law

Avocate à la Cour, List I of the Luxembourg Bar since 2009

Trained at the London School of Economics, formerly at Clifford Chance and Bonn Steichen & Partners

Member of international networks: EILN, AEA, Cross Border Advisory Solutions

Every matter handled and approved by a lawyer admitted to the Bar

Support in French and English

They talk about us

The firm referenced and cited

Professional directories, business press and legal publications where Cerno Law Firm and Maître Cora Maglo are referenced.

  • Paperjam
  • Editus
  • AmCham Luxembourg
  • ICLG, Corporate Immigration
  • Lexology
  • Startup Luxembourg
  • Alumni Université de Strasbourg
  • DatoCapital
  • Lawzana
  • Sitipro
  • Opendi Luxembourg
  • Yellow.lu
  • Luxembourg.co
  • Legalist
  • Global Law Lists
  • Debitura

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