Summary Trial

The creditor can seek to recover undisputed debts in a court of general jurisdiction through an accelerated procedure, i.e. a summary trial. An undisputed debt is a debt that has not been disputed by the debtor. To begin with, the creditor, or its authorized agent, sends to the district court an application for a summons, in which the court is asked to order the debtor to pay a specified debt.

The claim form should set out the name and contact details of the creditor, the name and contact details of the debtor, particulars of the claim, potential claims for interest and expenses, and a brief summary of the grounds that the claim is based on. The district court will notify the debtor of the claim, and give the debtor an opportunity to respond. If the debtor does not dispute the claim, or in its response only refers to matters, which clearly have no relevance for the resolution of the case, the court will issue a judgment by default. This means that the court resolves the case in accordance with the creditor’s claim.

A judgment by default of a district court forms grounds for enforcement, on the basis of which the creditor can request an enforcement officer to recover the debt.

After being served the judgment by default, the debtor may, however, appeal the judgment. The appeal shall be filed with the district court within the stipulated appeal period, and is normally followed by retrial of the case in regular court proceedings, including written and oral preparatory sessions and a main hearing.

The district court collects a fee in accordance with the from time to time valid court charges for the handling of a summary claim.