Application for enforcement

The enforcement application can be filed in the electronic enforcement service . You can also send the application by email or post or deliver it in person to an enforcement office.

A person engaged in professional collection activities and a public entity must apply for enforcement electronically in the electronic enforcement service or as an information system applicant .

A copy of court order or other enforceable instrument must be attached to the enforcement application. If the receivable is based on a negotiable promissory note, a bill of exchange or a cheque, the original instrument must likewise be attached to the application.

A judgment does not have to be attached to the enforcement application if the application for a summons was made electronically and the judgment was saved in the Register of Court Decisions (the judicial administration’s electronic service ). If necessary, the enforcement officer can demand that the applicant deliver the original grounds for enforcement to the enforcement authority.

The details of the grounds for enforcement attached to the enforcement application is saved in to the enforcement information system. If the grounds for enforcement is a court order, there is no need to attach it again to possible further enforcement applications. Referring to the information saved in the enforcement information system will suffice.

A power of attorney must usually be attached to the application if the application is filed through an attorney. If the attorney is an attorney-at-law, public legal aid attorney or licensed legal counsel, a power of authority is only required if the funds are to be remitted to the attorney. A copy of the power of attorney will suffice. The enforcement authority may ask you to deliver the original document if necessary.

Enforcement applications for taxes, public payments and other payments that can be enforced even without a judgment or court order (directly enforceable receivables) can be filed without any attachments. The applicant still has to specify the document and provide its details in the application.

Applying for the enforcement of directly enforceable receivables through the electronic enforcement service requires the applicant to register themselves as a web applicant. Applicants who file many applications can also apply for enforcement as an information system applicant through an interface connection if authorised by the enforcement authority. Additional information on page Requesting enforcement through the enforcement database .

The enforcement application must state

• the debtor’s name, personal identity code or business ID, address, telephone number and bank account number;
• if the applicant is using an attorney: the attorney’s name and contact details;
• if the funds will be remitted to the attorney, the attorney’s personal identity code or business ID;
• the debtor’s name and address, as well as their personal identity code or business ID if known to the creditor;
• the details of the grounds for enforcement (name of the court, date and record number of the order);
• the creditor’s claims (amount to be collected, start date for the accrual of interest, etc.);
• if liability for the debt is shared between several individuals, the debtors from whom the debt should be collected; and
• whether the creditor requests limited enforcement or entering the matter in the passive register.

Any other information on the debtor’s other contact information, income and assets should also be provided in the application.

A written application for enforcement must be signed. The application procedure for the enforcement of taxes and public payments differs in some details from the enforcement of judgment debts. The enforcement application (in PDF format) can be printed through the “Forms” link at oikeus.fi. Applications are also available from enforcement offices.

Matters requiring a judgment or court order

A copy of the court order or other grounds for enforcement must be attached to the enforcement application. If necessary, the enforcement officer can demand that the applicant deliver the original grounds for enforcement to the enforcement authority. However, the judgment need not be enclosed with the application if it can be found in the Electronic Register of Court Decisions (judicial administration’s electronic service).

If enforcement has been sought on the basis of the same judgment or court order on an earlier occasion, the document need not be attached to later enforcement requests. In such cases, it is enough to provide the details of the grounds for enforcement in the application. However, if the grounds for enforcement is not a court judgement, the document must be attached to the application.

If the debt is based on a negotiable promissory note, the note must be attached to the request in the original. Child maintenance payments can also be collected through enforcement on the basis of a maintenance agreement confirmed by the municipal social welfare board.

In general, enforcement measures may be undertaken immediately on the basis of a district court judgment, even if it has been appealed. The measures are usually not completed, however, until the judgment has become final (res judicata). However, funds accrued by garnishment or distraint can be released to the creditor if the creditor offers appropriate security for their possible repayment. Failing this, the funds are released to creditors only after the judgment has become final.

If the judgment is not final, the debtor can offer security to avoid distraint or garnishment. The security can be in the form of a pledge or personal guarantee.

With certain exceptions, creditors can file enforcement applications through an attorney. The attorney must attach the power of attorney issued by the creditor to the application. If the funds accrued in enforcement are to be released to the attorney, this must be specifically stated in the power of attorney (detailed power of attorney).

When a debt is subject to enforcement, the creditor must notify the enforcement officer of any payments towards the debt received otherwise than by enforcement.

Applying for the enforcement of public payments

Taxes and other governmental charges or fees are directly enforceable, which means they can be collected by way of enforcement without a judgment or other grounds for enforcement. Other receivables under public law or comparable receivables can be enforced in the absence of a judgment or court order if there is a specific statutory provision to this effect.

The enforcement of taxes and public payments differs in some particulars from the enforcement of private receivables. The main differences are:

• The enforcement application cannot be filed through an attorney.
• Enforcement measures can normally be completed even if the tax or payment has been appealed. The appeal authority can, however, prohibit or suspend the enforcement.

When a debt is subject to enforcement, the creditor must notify the enforcement officer of any payments towards the debt received otherwise than by enforcement.

Electronic enforcement service

‍PDF-forms

Application for enforcement: Matters requiring a judgment or decisio [pdf, 1.9 MB]

Application for enforcement: Child maintenance payment [pdf, 2.0 MB]

Additional page for enforcement application: Other respondents [pdf, 1.9 MB]

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