Enforcement of court judgments

Enforcement of judgments is the route based on court decisions or documents the statute treats as equivalent to judgments. It secures the compulsory performance of a judicially recognised right, covering not only money claims but also delivery of movables, eviction from immovables and performance of acts.

The debtor receives an enforcement order rather than a payment order and cannot halt the proceeding by simple objection; only narrow statutory remedies such as postponement of enforcement are available. Acknowledgments made before a court and certain notarial deeds also qualify as judgment-equivalent documents.

As a rule, enforcement may begin without waiting for the judgment to become final, though finality is required for certain decisions, such as those concerning title to immovables and rent determinations. Early collection carries a repayment risk for the creditor should the judgment later be overturned on appeal.