Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments (Exequatur)

Where a judgment comes from a country outside the Brussels I bis framework and no other applicable international instrument governs the matter, recognition proceedings (exequatur) are generally required before it can be enforced in Spain. Law 29/2015 on international legal cooperation in civil matters regulates this process, which is heard by the Courts of First Instance.

The Spanish court verifies a set of procedural and public-policy requirements —among them that the rights of defence were respected and that the judgment is not contrary to Spanish public policy— without reviewing the merits. Once recognised, the foreign judgment may be enforced in Spain in essentially the same way as a domestic one, allowing creditors to pursue assets located in Spanish territory.

We conduct exequatur proceedings for non-EU judgments and, once recognition is granted, carry out enforcement against the debtor's assets in Spain.