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Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Italy

How creditors recover debts in Italy: the decreto ingiuntivo injunction, the precetto and pignoramento, the realities of enforcement, and EU enforcement.

LG
The LawyerGo Team
· 6 min read
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Italy

Italy offers a fast judicial order for documented debts, though the enforcement stage is famously slower.

The decreto ingiuntivo

Where a debt is evidenced by written proof (invoices, statements), a creditor can obtain an injunction to pay (decreto ingiuntivo) — often without the debtor first being heard, and sometimes provisionally enforceable. The debtor may oppose it within the deadline, opening ordinary proceedings.

Precetto and attachment

To enforce, the creditor serves a formal demand (precetto) and then proceeds to attachment (pignoramento) of accounts, wages or assets through a court enforcement officer (ufficiale giudiziario).

Manage the timeline

Italian enforcement can be slow, so realistic planning — and early security where possible — matters.

Cross-border recovery

The European Payment Order covers cross-border claims, and EU judgments are enforced in Italy under Brussels Ia.

For foreign creditors

A verified Italian colleague can obtain the decreto ingiuntivo and drive the precetto and pignoramento — or enforce your foreign EU judgment.

Procedure and timelines vary by court — confirm with admitted Italian counsel.

LG
The LawyerGo Team
Editorial

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