Unpaid invoices in Slovakia: steps to recover a debt

Legal status as of November 1, 2026

When an unpaid invoice is issued, three things need to be checked: whether the claim has arisen, whether it can be proven, and whether the debtor has the means to pay. An invoice alone may not resolve a dispute about an order or the quality of delivery. Well-prepared enforcement therefore begins with documents and only then with the choice of legal procedure.

Prove both agreement and delivery

Attach a contract, order, order confirmation, delivery note, handover protocol, or other communication about performance to the invoice. Work reports, delivered outputs, and messages by which the customer accepted the result can help with services. You need to be able to explain who ordered what, at what price, and when payment was due. The existence of a claim results from a legal relationship; issuing an invoice in itself does not replace meeting the conditions of the claim. [1] [2]

Also check the correct identity of the debtor. The trademark, operation and business name of a legal entity do not have to be identical. The partner from the specific order is decisive. If the debtor alleges defects or sets off their own claim, keep a record of the objections and respond to them on their merits. An ignored complaint can become a material issue in a lawsuit.

A payment demand should set out a clear final step before litigation

The pre-action demand should state the legal basis, principal, due date, payments already made and ancillary claims sought. Please provide the account and a reasonable payment deadline. Keep proof of its sending and delivery. During any negotiation, it will be clear which claim the debtor was dealing with and what performance was requested from him.

If the debtor asks to pay by instalments, do not rely on a vague promise alone. The agreement should specify the amounts, deadlines and consequences of delay. A properly formulated acknowledgement of obligation can significantly influence the evidence and the statute of limitations, but its effects depend on the applicable civil or commercial regime. Another reminder does not in itself stop the statute of limitations. [1] [2]

Interest may be added to the principal

A debtor’s late payment of a monetary obligation may give the creditor a claim to default interest. First, the contract and legal regime must be checked. Civil and commercial relations do not have the same rules in all cases. In the case of commercial obligations, a claim for lump-sum compensation for the costs associated with the enforcement of the claim may also arise under legal conditions; it cannot be transferred to consumer debt without distinction. [1] [2]

The calculation must take into account the correct start of the delay, any partial payments and the applicable rate. For multiple invoices with different due dates, a separate overview of each item will help. A creditor should not add arbitrary administrative fees to an application simply because debt recovery takes time. Every requested amount needs a legal basis.

Order-for-payment proceedings may result in a payment order

Eligible monetary claims in euros may be pursued through order-for-payment proceedings at the District Court of Banská Bystrica. The application must be filed electronically, using the prescribed duly authorised form and electronic attachments. The law establishes the conditions of admissibility; it is not a procedure applicable to every dispute and every debtor. [3] [4]

The payment order orders the defendant to pay or file an objection within 15 days of service. Timely admissible objection with the necessary justification may lead to further dispute proceedings. If the order cannot be served or the defendant files an objection, the creditor must respond to the court’s request and apply for the proceedings to continue within the statutory period. Without a procedural response, the proceedings may end without payment being achieved. [3]

A quick order does not mean getting the money quickly. The total time will be affected by delivery, the debtor's defense, and their assets. If the dispute is complex from the outset, compare the suitability of order-for-payment proceedings with bringing an ordinary action directly.

The statute of limitations must be calculated for a specific claim

In the civil law regime, the general limitation period is three years, in the commercial regime it is generally four years. However, special rules and exceptions apply, including the effects of acknowledging a debt or bringing a claim before a court. For some types of claims, the period may be shorter. The date of issue of the invoice cannot therefore be automatically confused with the beginning of the limitation period. [1] [2]

Model example: the supplier delivered the ordered goods and the customer signed the delivery note. Repeatedly promises payment after the due date, but does not send the money. The supplier should check the due date and evidence, send a specific reminder and set a deadline for further action. Endless prolongation of informal promises may worsen his position without bringing about payment.

A judgment must also be enforceable in practice

If the debtor does not voluntarily comply with an enforceable decision, enforcement is a possibility. An application for enforcement is submitted using the prescribed electronic procedure. However, if the debtor is in bankruptcy or restructuring, it may be necessary to apply the claim in the relevant insolvency proceedings; the mere continuation of reminders does not replace such an application. [5] [6]

Before judicial enforcement, it is therefore wise to check the available information about the debtor, his status and assets. The result should be an appropriate strategy: sometimes a quick lawsuit, sometimes a secured agreement or timely filing of a claim. Even a successful judgment does not in itself guarantee that the debtor has enforceable assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I collect a debt without a signed contract?
In many cases, yes, if the law does not require a specific form and the agreement and performance can be proven by other evidence. The specific contractual relationship is decisive. [1] [2]

Does a pre-action demand stop the limitation period?
A demand alone generally does not. To protect a claim, it is necessary to use legal procedures in a timely manner with the effects that the law associates with the given act. [1] [2]

Can a debtor file an objection just because he has no money?
Lack of money in itself does not negate the creation of debt. The objection must meet legal requirements, including the necessary factual justification. [3]

For unpaid invoices, please provide us with the order, delivery documents, and communication with the debtor. We will assess the evidentiary situation, statute of limitations, and the appropriate method of enforcement.

Legal sources

[1] Civil Code No. 40/1964 Zb. — § 40, § 100 to 112, § 488 et seq., § 517 and § 558; version effective 31.7.2026 to 30.6.2027
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1964/40/20260731.html

[2] Commercial Code No. 513/1991 Zb. — § 261, § 272, § 323, § 365 to 369c, § 392, § 397 and § 402; version effective from 17.8.2026
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1991/513/20260817.html

[3] Act No. 307/2016 Z. z. on Order-for-Payment Proceedings — §§ 1–4, § 7, §§ 9–15; version effective from 1 November 2022
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2016/307/20221101.html

[4] Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic – Filing motions and related documents for court proceedings — Filings in order-for-payment proceedings and authorization of the form
https://www.justice.gov.sk/sluzby/podavanie-navrhov-a-suvisiacich-pisomnosti-na-sudne-konanie/

[5] Enforcement Code No. 233/1995 Z. z. — §§ 45, 48 and 49; version effective from 27 December 2025
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1995/233/20251227.html

[6] Act No. 7/2005 Z. z. on Bankruptcy and Restructuring — Sections 28, 114, 120 and 121; version effective from 1.10.2025
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2005/7/20251001.html