Debt Collection in the Czech Republic: How to Recover Your Money in 2025
You feel defrauded. You feel dishonest. We know exactly how you feel. Your debtor promised to pay tomorrow, next week, or next month. But now? He has stopped communicating completely.
He is not replying to your messages, emails, or phone calls. You are far away, but he is in the Czech Republic. You might be worried that your money is lost forever or that the Czech legal system is too complex to navigate from abroad.
Do not give up. With the right strategy, the law is on your side.
The “Ghosting” Debtor: Why you need to act fast
The worst feeling is uncertainty. Is the debtor just ignoring you, or do they genuinely have no money? In the Czech Republic, time is money—literally.
According to Czech law, the general statute of limitations is three years. If you wait too long hoping for a voluntary payment that never comes, your right to enforce the debt in court may expire. Furthermore, effective from January 1, 2025, new rules regarding wage deductions and unseizable amounts have been introduced, making the calculation of recoverable debts more complex. You need a partner who understands these current regulations.
Don’t Sue Blindly: The “Mini Audit” Strategy
Many foreign creditors make the mistake of immediately filing a costly lawsuit without checking the debtor’s situation. This can be a waste of money if the debtor has no assets.
At ModerniPravnik.cz, we start with a smart, low-cost step: the Mini Audit. For a starting fee of approximately €150, we perform a background check that includes:
- Insolvency Check: We verify if the debtor is in insolvency proceedings.
- Execution Registry: We check if there are already forced debt collections against them.
- Asset Tracing: We look for immovable property (real estate).
Why is this crucial?
If the debtor is already in deep debt or insolvency, a standard lawsuit might not be the best path. However, if they have assets or an income, we proceed to the next step immediately.
The Legal Process: Speed is Key
Execution: Getting Your Money Back
If the Mini Audit shows the debtor has funds, we move to the Pre-litigation Notice. This is a mandatory step. Sending this notice gives the debtor a final chance to pay, but more importantly, it is a legal requirement if you want the court to order the debtor to pay your legal costs as well.
The “Payment Order”
We don’t want to drag you through years of court hearings. In many cases, we utilize a specific tool in Czech law called the Payment Order. The court can issue this order without a hearing. Once delivered, the debtor has only 15 days to pay the debt plus costs or file an objection. If they do nothing, this order becomes as powerful as a final judgment.
Execution: Getting Your Money Back
Once we have a judgment, if the debtor still refuses to pay, we initiate execution. In the Czech Republic, we can recover debts through:
- Wage Deductions: Directly taking a portion of their salary (subject to 2025 limits).
- Bank Account Freezing: Seizing funds directly from their bank accounts.
- Sale of Property: Selling their movable or immovable assets.
Our goal is to recover not just the principal debt, but also the interest and the legal service fees.
Why Choose ModerniPravnik.cz?
We have been established on the Czech market for more than 13 years. Our team of 7 lawyers specializes in helping foreign clients navigate local laws.
We understand that you want your money back, not more bills. We are here to bridge the distance between you and your debtor.
Contact us today
Are you dealing with a non-paying debtor in the Czech Republic? Don’t let the statute of limitations run out. Send us the details, and let’s start with a Mini Audit to see where you stand.
Autor: Matěj Šedivý, právní praktikant a Mgr. Vojtěch Ruta, advokátní koncipient
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