Debt enforcement in Slovakia: applying for discontinuance

Legal status as of November 1, 2026

The notice of commencement of enforcement must be read together with the decision on the basis of which enforcement is being carried out. Disagreement with the debt and a legal reason to stop the enforcement may not be the same thing. In the ordinary enforcement of a monetary debt, the first 15 days from the delivery of the notification can be of great importance. The following procedure applies to enforcement proceedings conducted according to the regulation effective from April 2017. [1] [2]

Check the enforcement title and all amounts claimed

In the notification, find the creditor, bailiff, file number, designation of the enforcement title, and a breakdown of the claim being enforced. An enforcement title can be, for example, an enforceable judgment or a payment order. Verify that this is your obligation, that the correct amount is being recovered, and that any payments already made have been included. Distinguish between the principal debt, ancillary claims and costs. [1]

Keep the envelope, proof of service or electronic confirmation of service. The date of receipt matters for calculating deadlines. If you do not know the underlying decision, you need to find out the method of its delivery and enforceability. Simply stating that you did not read anything does not mean that the delivery had no legal effect; however, a failure in delivery may be material.

What is an application to terminate enforcement for?

The application to terminate enforcement is filed with the bailiff conducting the proceedings. The reason may be, for example, payment of the enforced claim after the enforcement title was issued, cancellation of the title or other obstacle to its enforceability. The application must set out specific facts and be supported by evidence. A general statement that you disagree with the enforcement is usually not enough. [1] [2]

Enforcement proceedings generally do not reopen the entire original dispute. If the debtor missed the deadline for objecting to a payment order, they cannot automatically expect the enforcement court to rehear the evidence concerning delivery of goods or conclusion of the contract. It is necessary to distinguish issues of the original procedure from obstacles to the enforcement of the decision and to check whether there is a specific remedy. [1]

The first application should include all relevant grounds

The debtor may file a reasoned motion within 15 days of receipt of the notification of commencement of enforcement. The debtor must state all facts that can be relied on at that time. An application filed in time generally has suspensive effect. However, the law contains exceptions, including for certain titles for urgent protection and for a special procedure for the enforcement of non-monetary obligations. [1]

The suspensive effect does not mean that the account is automatically unblocked. The law links this case to a postponement with blocking, in which the securing effects may persist. A later application generally has no suspensive effect and may rely only on new facts; an exception also applies to facts that the debtor, through no fault of their own, could not have raised earlier. Therefore, it is risky to send an incomplete application with the plan to complete it at some later time. [1]

Prepare evidence related to the defense case

If you state that you have paid, provide a bank statement showing the recipient, amount, date and payment reference. If you are referring to an agreement with a creditor, its full text and proof of compliance with the conditions are required. If the underlying decision was set aside, attach the decision setting it aside. The evidence should answer why a specific obligation should no longer be performed. [1]

Example: after a final decision, the debtor paid the full principal and the ancillary amounts awarded, but the creditor later applied for enforcement without taking that payment into account. A bank statement and a precise breakdown of the payment may support an application to terminate enforcement to the corresponding extent. However, if he only paid the principal, it may not resolve the remaining interest and costs. The total obligation must be compared with the total performance.

Installments and deferment address a different situation than debt extinction

If the debt is legitimate and the problem is lack of money, a request for installments or consideration of legal grounds for deferment may be more appropriate. The Enforcement Code sets out the conditions under which the bailiff must allow instalments and also permits an arrangement with the creditor’s consent. The monthly payment proposal should be based on real income, mandatory expenses, and the total amount being recovered. [1]

The request for installments alone is not a decision to authorize them. Likewise, an agreement reached with the creditor by telephone does not necessarily terminate enforcement. Therefore, confirm the next steps and payment details with the bailiff. Once enforcement has begun, its costs must also be taken into account; unverified payment of the original invoice may not close the entire case. [1]

Deductions and seizure of property have legal limits

Enforcement cannot affect every income and every thing without limitation. Deductions are subject to protected amounts and rules that also take account of the type of claim. Special protection applies to certain benefits and items necessary for basic living needs. The calculation depends on the specific situation; the amount of the account balance alone may not clarify the origin of the money. [1]

If you object to the seizure of protected income or someone else's property, prepare documents about its origin or ownership and notify the bailiff. Do not hide assets or transfer them solely to avoid enforcement. Such conduct may lead to another dispute, whereas a properly chosen procedural application allows the lawfulness of the particular measure to be reviewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it enough to call the bailiff and say I disagree with the debt?
A phone call can help to find out information, but it does not replace a properly filed and reasoned motion to stop. The deadline continues to pass. [1]

Will my bank account be unblocked after I file the application?
Not automatically. According to the law, a motion with a suspensive effect is a postponement with blocking; a distinction must be made between securing the property and the actual satisfaction of the creditor. [1]

Can I still defend myself after 15 days?
A later application is possible, but the reasons are limited and it generally does not have a suspensive effect. Circumstances that could not have been reported earlier through no fault of their own are considered separately. [1] [2]

If you received a notification, please send it to us with proof of delivery, the underlying decision, and payment receipts. We will determine whether there are grounds for procedural defense and what deadline applies.

Legal sources

[1] Enforcement Code No. 233/1995 Z. z. — § 45, § 61c to 61l, in particular § 61g, § 61i para. 3 and § 61k para. 1 to 5; § 68 et seq., § 104, § 111 and § 115; version effective from 27.12.2025
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1995/233/20251227.html

[2] Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic – How can the debtor defend himself against enforcement — Motion to stop enforcement and concentration of grounds
https://www.justice.gov.sk/faq/ako-sa-moze-povinny-branit-proti-exekucii/