Wage attachment (or "wage attachment")

Verified 01 July 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Wage foreclosure (or wage foreclosure) is the process of taking a portion of an employee's salary, regardless of their employment contract, to pay off their debt. The employee now receives only part of his salary. But the amount paid to the employee may not be less than the amount of the elusive bank balance (SBI). We'll explain.

The timing of wage attachment varies, depending on whether the creditor initiated this procedure from 1er July 2025 or earlier:

From 1 July 2025

In order to initiate a wage attachment, the creditor must comply with the following conditions:

  • Have a enforceable title noting a claim cash (amount quantified and not disputed by the debtor) and due (payment due)
  • Instruct a Commissioner of Justice to issue a command to pay to the debtor. The Commissioner of Justice has an obligation to enter the order to pay the numerical register of wage attachments, on the day of its significance to the debtor or on 1er working day next.

FYI  

A creditor seeking unpaid maintenance may resort to wage attachment. However, it may prefer to initiate a procedure for direct payment (procedure for recovering unpaid payments from the application up to 6 months before the application).

The command to pay indicates to the debtor that he is now in the following situation:

  • He has an obligation to pay the debt within one month.
  • It shall have the possibility, if any, of seeking agreement with the creditor through the Commissioner of Justice.
  • He has the opportunity to challenge the order to pay before the execution judge.

Further information must be given on the command to payOtherwise it is not valid.

Mandatory information varies depending on whether a act of attachment concerning the debtor has or has not already been entered on the numerical register of wage attachments.

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There are no entries in the register

To be valid, the order to pay must contain the following information:

  • The enforceable title
  • Separate statement of amounts claimed in principal (amount initially due), costs and interest due, and interest rate
  • The command, within one month, to have to pay the sums indicated or to reach an agreement with the creditor, otherwise the seizure of his remuneration may be triggered
  • An indication that the debtor may send the Commissioner of Justice a postal or electronic mail (mail) indicating that he wishes to try to reach an agreement with the creditor on the amount or the terms of payment of the debt. And the indication that if he does not send this letter, the debtor will be considered as having refused to try to reach an agreement.
  • Reproduction of articles R212-1-5and R212-1-6 of the Code of Civil Enforcement Procedures
  • An indication that the debtor may, at any time, apply to the enforcement judge if he wishes to contest the proceedings in progress (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that the court should be seised of the enforcement by subpoena of a challenge within one month of the notification of the order for payment suspends the course of the procedure for the entry of remuneration, as well as the indication of the date on which this period expires (in very visible characters)
  • The indication that contesting the procedure does not prevent another creditor from issuing a command for the purpose of seizing remuneration (in very prominent characters)
  • The designation of the court to which the challenges are to be made (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that if the debtor considers himself to be in a situation of over-indebtedness, he may file a debt distress report (in very visible characters)

An entry is already on the register

To be valid, the order to pay must contain the following information:

  • The enforceable title
  • Separate statement of amounts claimed in principal (amount initially due), costs and interest due, and interest rate
  • The summons, within one month, to pay the sums indicated or to reach an agreement with the creditor, otherwise the seizure of his remuneration may be triggered
  • An indication that the debtor may, at any time, apply to the enforcement judge if he wishes to contest the proceedings in progress (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that the court should be seised of the enforcement by summons of a challenge within one month of the notification of the order for payment suspends the course of the procedure for the entry of remuneration, as well as the indication of the date on which this period expires (in very visible characters)
  • The indication that contesting the procedure does not prevent another creditor from issuing a command for the purpose of seizing remuneration (in very prominent characters)
  • The designation of the court to which the challenges are to be made (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that, if the debtor considers himself to be in a situation of over-indebtedness, he may file a debt distress report (in very visible characters)

The remainder of the procedure varies according to the choice made by the debtor who has received the order to pay, but the continuation of the seizure remains at the initiative of the creditor.

After you receive the command to pay, the debtor may:

  • To pay its debt within one month following the significance of the command to pay
  • Or request that an agreement be reached with the creditor on the amount and terms of payment of the debt,
  • Or challenge the order to pay before the enforcement judge. If the debtor does so within the period of one month following significance of the command to pay, the challenge shall have the effect of suspending the wage attachment proceedings, pending the decision of the judge. Have a lawyer shall be compulsory as soon as the amount of unpaid payment reaches €10,000.

Application by the debtor to the Commissioner of Justice

After being ordered to pay, the debtor may choose to search for an agreement with the creditor on the amount and terms of payment of the debt.

The debtor must inform the Commissioner of Justice, by post or by e-mail (e-mail). He must attach all the information he considers useful to inform the Commissioner of Justice of his income and expenses.

Statement by the Commissioner of Justice

After receiving the request from the debtor, the Commissioner of Justice may, if he considers it necessary, question the creditor and the debtor.

Where appropriate, it shall propose to the debtor and the creditor a proposal for agreement on the amount and manner of payment of the debt.

Result of attempted agreement

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The proposed agreement is accepted

If the creditor and the debtor agree to the agreement proposed by the Commissioner of Justice, the Commissioner of Justice shall draft a minutes of agreement.

The Commissioner of Justice must then send a copy of the minutes of agreement the creditor and the debtor.

If the debtor does not apply the agreement reached, the creditor may resume the wage attachment procedure. To do this, it must trigger wage attachment, by designating a dispatching justice commissionerand then the service by the Commissioner of Justice of a seizure report to the company employing the debtor.

Warning  

The seizure report shall not be served on the employer more than three months after the service of the command to pay, if not the command to pay is no longer valid. However, this period shall be extended by the time of suspension of the wage attachment proceedings connected with the attempted settlement, where minutes of agreement shall be concluded within 3 months.

The proposed agreement is rejected

The creditor may resume the wage attachment procedure. To do this, it must trigger wage attachment, by designating a dispatching justice commissionerand then the service by the Commissioner of Justice of a seizure report to the company employing the debtor. If the debtor is acting, the record of seizure is sent to the temporary working company.

Warning  

The seizure report shall not be served on the employer more than three months after the service of the command to pay to the debtor, otherwise the command to pay is no longer valid. However, this period shall be extended by the time of suspension of the wage attachment proceedings connected with the attempt to reach an agreement, where minutes of agreement shall be concluded within 3 months.

It is possible to contest the command to pay, in particular for defect in form, i.e. when at least 1 of the information to be included is missing.

Mandatory information varies, depending on whether act of attachment concerning the debtor has or has not already been entered on the numerical register of wage attachments.

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No registration exists

To be valid, the command to pay shall contain the following information:

  • The enforceable title
  • Separate statement of amounts claimed as principal (amount initially due), costs and interest due, and interest rate
  • The command, within one month, to have to pay the sums indicated or to reach an agreement with the creditor, otherwise the seizure of his remuneration may be triggered.
  • An indication that the debtor may send the Commissioner of Justice a postal or electronic mail (mail) indicating that he wishes to try to reach an agreement with the creditor on the amount or the terms of payment of the debt. An indication that if the debtor does not send this letter, the debtor will be considered to have refused to try to reach an agreement.
  • Reproduction of articles R212-1-5and R212-1-6 of the Code of Civil Enforcement Procedures
  • An indication that the debtor may, at any time, apply to the enforcement judge if he wishes to contest the proceedings in progress (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that the court should be seised of the enforcement by subpoena of a challenge within one month of the notification of the order for payment suspends the course of the procedure for the entry of remuneration, as well as the indication of the date on which this period expires (in very visible characters)
  • The indication that contesting the procedure does not prevent another creditor from issuing a command for the purpose of seizing remuneration (in very prominent characters)
  • The designation of the court to which the challenges are to be made (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that, if the debtor considers himself to be in a situation of over-indebtedness, he may file a debt distress report (in very visible characters).

Registration already exists

To be valid, the order to pay must contain the following information:

  • The enforceable title
  • Separate statement of amounts claimed in principal (amount initially due), costs and interest due, and interest rate
  • The summons, within one month, to pay the sums indicated or to reach an agreement with the creditor, otherwise the seizure of his remuneration may be triggered.
  • An indication that the debtor may, at any time, apply to the enforcement judge if he wishes to contest the proceedings in progress (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that the court should be seised of the enforcement by summons of a challenge within one month of the notification of the order for payment suspends the course of the procedure for the entry of remuneration, as well as the indication of the date on which this period expires (in very visible characters)
  • The indication that contesting the procedure does not prevent another creditor from issuing a command for the purpose of seizing remuneration (in very prominent characters)
  • The designation of the court to which the challenges are to be made (in very visible characters)
  • An indication that if the debtor considers himself to be in a situation of over-indebtedness, he may file a debt distress report (in very visible characters).

The command to pay may be challenged before the enforcement judge, who must be summoned.

Such action must be notified on the same day or on 1er working day next to the Commissioner of Justice who served the command to payotherwise the enforcement judge will be obliged to consider the challenge inadmissible.

FYI  

Have a lawyer shall be compulsory as soon as the amount of unpaid payment reaches €10,000.

The competent court shall be the enforcement judge of the place where the debtor lives. However, if he resides abroad or has no known domicile, the competent judge shall be the judge of enforcement of the place of domicile of the company employing the debtor.

Where a challenge is made within one month after the significance of the command to pay, this has the effect of suspending the wage attachment proceedings, pending the decision of the judge.

The judge's decision can be appealed. In the event of an appeal, a stay of execution of the decisions taken by the enforcement judge may be requested on 1er president of the court of appeal. This request must be made by summons for interim relief issued to the opposing party (as the case may be, the debtor or the creditor).

One month after the payment order was served on the debtor, where the debtor has not requested to search for an agreement, or where the search for an agreement has failed, the creditor may continue the wage attachment procedure. This procedure consists of several steps, which must be completed one after the other:

1Request the appointment of a "dispatching commissioner of justice"

The creditor must first ask the National Chamber of Commissioners of Justice to appoint a dispatching justice commissioner.

As appropriate, the dispatching justice commissioner designated may be:

  • Either the striking commissioner of justice, i.e. the Commissioner of Justice who issued the order to pay,
  • Let's have another justice commissioner.

The dispatching justice commissioner be responsible for receiving payments from the debtor's employer, remitting them to the arrogant creditor and to apportion the amounts paid when several creditors have made themselves known.

FYI  

The debtor and his employer shall be informed of the identity and contact details of the dispatching justice commissioner. This information shall also be entered on the numerical register of wage attachments.

2To have a notice of seizure served

Creditor must charge striking commissioner of justice serve on the debtor's employer one seizure report. If the debtor is acting, the record of seizure is sent to the temporary working company.

To be valid, the seizure report must contain the following information:

  • The name and domicile of the debtor
  • An indication that the employer must send every month to the dispatching justice commissioner an amount equal to the seizable portion of the salary
  • The method of calculating the forfeiture and the arrangements for settling it
  • The obligation to provide the Commissioner of Justice, within 15 days of service of the notice of seizure, with the information provided for in Article L. 212-8
  • Reproduction of articles L. 212-7, L. 212-8 and L. 212-14
  • The identity and contact details of the dispatching justice commissioner who has been designated
  • The statement of the sums for which the seizure takes place, distinguishing the amount of the original debt, charges, interest and the interest rate.

The seizure report must be accompanied a certificate drawn up by the striking commissioner of justice. That certificate shall certify that the debtor has not brought an action within one month of service of the command to pay.

The Commissioner of Justice must meet the deadlines following:

  • Serve the seizure report to the employer within three months of service of the command to pay, if not the command to pay is no longer valid. However, this period shall be extended by the time of suspension of the wage attachment proceedings connected with the attempt to reach an agreement, where minutes of agreement shall be concluded within 3 months.
  • Register the seizure report on the numerical register of wage attachments, on the day of service or on 1er working day next, or it's not valid.
  • Notify the act of attachment to the debtor within 8 days of service of the seizure report, otherwise the act of attachment is not valid. The attachment order is a document that must indicate the court before which it can be challenged, and specify that if the debtor changes employer, the seizure can be continued with this new employer, without a new one command to pay necessary.

At any time, the debtor may contest the wage attachment proceedings.

To do so, it must to file a summons with the judge of enforcement of his place of residence. If he resides abroad or has no known domicile, the competent judge shall be the judge responsible for the execution of the place of domicile of the company employing him.

Have a lawyer shall be compulsory as soon as the amount of unpaid payment reaches €10,000.

The enforcement judge may authorize seizure of the uncontested portion of the debt. This decision does not need to be notified, it is directly enforceable. But the judge's decision can be appealed.

In the case of an appeal, a stay of execution may be requested on 1er president of the court of appeal. This request must be made by summons for interim relief issued to the opposing party (i.e. the creditor or debtor). If applicable, the employer must be informed of this request.

Another creditor may join the current wage attachment if he or she meets the following conditions:

  • Have a enforceable title noting a claim cash (amount quantified and not disputed by the debtor) and due (payment due).
  • Instruct a Commissioner of Justice to issue a command to pay to the debtor. The Commissioner of Justice has an obligation to enter the order to pay the numerical register of wage attachments, on the day of its significance to the debtor, or on 1er working day next.

One month after service of the command to pay, the other creditor must indicate his wish to join the proceedings in progress. To do so, it must appoint a commissioner of justice:

  • To serve a act of intervention to 1er creditor, or, if dispatching justice commissioner has already been designated, to serve him with an act of intervention.
  • To notify the act of intervention to the debtor within 8 days of service,
  • To enter it in the numerical register of wage attachments the day of service or the firster working day next. It is from that day of registration that the sums paid by the debtor's employer will be allocated taking into account the new creditor concerned.

To be valid, the act of intervention shall contain the following information:

  • The name, forenames and domicile of the debtor,
  • The enforceable title
  • The separate statement of the amounts claimed as principal (the amount initially due), the expenses and interest due, and the interest rate.

Where a notice of seizure is served to a company, she shall provide to the creditor the following information:

  • The situation of the debtor in the company (e.g. on a fixed-term contract), if he pays the debtor a sum as remuneration, and the amount of the sum to be paid to him in the month following service of the seizure report.
  • Disposals, seizures, DATS: titleContent or direct payments of maintenance payments in progress in respect of the debtor.

To be valid, the seizure report must contain the following information:

  • The name and domicile of the debtor
  • An indication that the employer must send every month to the dispatching justice commissioner an amount equal to the seizable portion of the salary
  • The method of calculating the forfeiture and the arrangements for settling it
  • The obligation to provide the Commissioner of Justice, within 15 days of service of the notice of seizure, with the information provided for in Article L. 212-8
  • Reproduction of articles L. 212-7, L. 212-8 and L. 212-14
  • The identity and contact details of the dispatching justice commissioner who has been designated
  • The statement of the sums for which the seizure takes place, distinguishing the amount of the original debt, charges, interest and the interest rate.

FYI  

A company who, without lawful justification, does not make such a declaration, or makes a false declaration, may be ordered to pay a civil fine of €10,000 maximum and to pay damages. To do this, the creditor must make the request to the enforcement judge.

No later than 15 days after service of the seizure report, the company shall provide the dispatching justice commissioner the following information:

  • The situation of the debtor in the company (e.g. on a fixed-term contract), if he pays the debtor a sum as remuneration, and the amount of the sum to be paid to him in the month following service of the seizure report.
  • Assignments, seizures, DATS: titleContentor direct payments of maintenance payments in progress in respect of the debtor.

Every month, the company shall pay to the dispatching justice commissioner deductions from the debtor's salary. These deductions must be made within the limits of the amounts available.

FYI  

If the company does not make these payments, it may be ordered by the judge to pay the deductions that should have been made from the debtor's salary.

In the event of an event that suspends or terminates the entry, the company shall inform the dispatching justice commissioner, within 8 days.

Please note

It's only after the release an application that the company may bring an action against the debtor.

Most of the time, the amount of seizable income is calculated from the cumulative net wages received in the preceding 12 months the record of seizure.

Please note

Where the employee receives wages from more than one employer, the seizable income is calculated on the total of these sums.

But the amount of income that can be seized also includes:

  • Supplementary allowances in the event of reduced working hours (unemployment, partial, temporary half-time)
  • Return to Employment Benefit (RWA)
  • Solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa)
  • Unemployment benefits (allowances, aids and any other benefits paid by France Travail - formerly Pôle emploi -)
  • Voluntary retirement allowance
  • Sickness, maternity and child benefit
  • Disability pensions and annuities
  • Retirement and survivors' pensions.

In addition, family benefits can be claimed only in certain cases and for the payment of certain claims only.

However, some amounts are not included in the seizable income:

  • Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA) and independent living supplement (AVM), except for the payment of maintenance costs for the disabled person
  • Custom Battery Allowance (Apa)
  • Specific Solidarity Allowance (SSA)
  • Capital allowances or annuities for accidents at work
  • Severance pay as a result of the company's economic situation
  • Redundancy payments
  • Retirement allowances
  • Allowances representative of professional expenses
  • Conventional severance pay
  • Activity bonus
  • Participation and profit-sharing premiums
  • Active Solidarity Income (RSA).

The maximum amount of wage attachment varies, depending on whether the attachment is used to repay outstanding maintenance or other debt:

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Unpaid maintenance

Seizable income may be seized in its entirety, except for the elusive bank balance (SBI).

The SBI is the minimum amount that must be left with the debtor.

This sum shall be at least equal to €646.52.

Warning  

The nature and amount of the amount seized must be indicated on the pay slip, otherwise the employer will be penalized.

Other debt

Calculation of the maximum amount of the entry

Only a fraction of the seizable income can be withheld by the employer.

This graspable share is determined by a scale defined for a single living debtor.

Tableau - Maximum amount of the seizure for each tranche of monthly attachable resources

Total monthly seizable resources

Seizable part

Maximum amount of the entry

(cumulative amount)

1re slice

Up to €370.00

1/20e

€18.50

2e slice

Beyond €370.00 and up to €721.67

1/10e

€53.67

3e slice

Beyond €721.67 and up to €1,074.17

1/5e

€124.17

4e slice

Beyond €1,074.17 and up to €1,424.17

1/4

€211.67

5e slice

Beyond €1,424.17 and up to €1,775.00

1/3

€328.61

6e slice

Beyond €1,775.00 and up to €2,133.33

2/3

€567.50

7e slice

Beyond €2,133.33

100%

€567.50

+ all sums above €2,133.33

Example :

  • For the debtor whose total monthly seizable resources is €1,500, the amount of the seizure may be up to €328.61 - ((€1,775.00 - €1,500) x 1/3) = €236.94 per month.
  • For the debtor whose total monthly seizable resources is €2,500, the amount of the seizure may be up to €567.50 + (2 500 - €2,133.33) =€934.17 per month.

The amount of the installments shall be increased, for each dependent of the debtor, by €143.33.

Dependants of the debtor shall be, on presentation of evidence, the following:

  • Spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent or cohabiting partner whose resources are less than €646.52
  • Dependent children (living with or for whom support is paid)
  • Ascending whose resources are less than €646.52 and who lives with him or for whom he pays alimony.

FYI  

It is mandatory to leave at the disposal of the debtor elusive bank balance (SBI), which means at least €646.52.

Estimated amount of seizure

The maximum amount that can be captured can be estimated using a simulator:

Estimate the amount of wage attachment (or wage attachment)

Warning  

The nature and amount of the amount seized must be indicated on the pay slip, otherwise the employer will be penalized.

The rules are different depending on whether there is only one or more creditors involved in wage attachment:

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Only one creditor

Every month, the dispatching justice commissioner remit to the creditor the sums he has received from the employer.

Multiple creditors

How are the amounts seized distributed?

First, the dispatching justice commissioner duty notify one allocation plan to each creditor who has registered a seizure report or a act of intervention on the numerical register of wage attachments.

This allocation plan must include a detailed breakdown of the apportionment costs. That document states, in particular, that each creditor may request verification of that document by the court registry. This indication must be clearly visible (‘in very visible characters’).

To be valid, the allocation plan must indicate that each creditor has 8 days to address his remarks to the dispatching justice commissioner.

At the end of that period, the dispatching justice commissioner establish a distribution state. This distribution state is notified creditors and debtor.

The debtor or each creditor may contest the distribution state before the enforcement court, provided that it does so within eight days. If they do, they must notify the dispatching justice commissioner same day or 1er working day by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

FYI  

Pending the decision of the executing judge, the sums seized and received by the dispatching justice commissioner are retained (or logged) to the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations.

When are the seized amounts paid?

At least once every 6 weeks, on dispatching justice commissioner remits to the creditors the amounts received from the employer.

It shall distribute the total amount received among the creditors in accordance with the distribution state.

Each creditor receives an amount proportional to the amount of his claim (original debt, fees and interest).

Each payment shall be accompanied by a detailed statement of the apportionment costs. That document states, in particular, that each creditor may request verification of that statement from the court registry. This indication must be clearly visible (‘in very visible characters’).

The release of the attachment, which marks the end of the wage attachment, may take place:

  • Where the dispatching justice commissioner finds that the debt is repaid, or
  • Or by decision of the enforcement judge,
  • Or with the agreement of all the creditors concerned.

In the event of release, the dispatching justice commissioner shall carry out the following actions:

  • Inform the company employing the debtor within 8 days,
  • Delete on seizure report and acts of intervention registered on the numerical register of wage attachments.

Before July 2025

From 1er July 2025, some of the rules of the wage attachment procedure are changing.

According to the stage in progress at that date (the employer already applies deductions from the debtor’s salary, the judge has authorized the attachment of wages, the application has just been filed before the judge), the procedures for continuing the attachment of wages vary:

From 1er july 2025, the company shall to cease all payments to the Registry of the court. Any payment made to the court registry after that date shall be rejected.

FYI  

The amounts paid by the employer until June 30, 2025, are allocated, before June 1er October 2025, between creditors concerned by the registry of the court.

From 1er july 2025, the wage attachment procedure shall be transmitted by the Registry of the General Court to the creditor's commissioner of justice.

This transmission takes the form of a report containing the following information:

  • Name, forenames and domicile of the creditor (if legal person, its registered office)
  • Name, forenames and domicile of the debtor
  • Name and address of the company employing the debtor
  • The amount for which the entry was authorized
  • Amount of money that has already been allocated among creditors
  • Where applicable, the amount of the sums received before 1er July 2025 and not allocated.

From the transmission of the wage attachment procedure to the creditor's commissioner of justice, the creditor has 3 months to confirm to the commissioner of justice, by all means, his will to continue the procedure of attachment on salary. The Commissioner of Justice must enter this confirmation on the numerical register of wage attachments.

If the creditor has confirmed his willingness to continue the wage attachment procedure, the wage attachment continues in accordance with the rules for wage attachments initiated from 1er July 2025, including:

  • The creditor must ask the National Chamber of Commissioners of Justice to appoint a dispatching justice commissioner.
  • The Commissioner of Justice must forward the minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.
  • The company shall be served with a seizure reportand will now have to pay deductions from the debtor's salary to the dispatching justice commissioner.

Where the judge has authorized the attachment of wages, and as soon as that judgment is no longer subject to appeal (because the time limit for appeal has expired or because no further appeal is possible), the attachment procedure shall be transmitted by the Registry of the General Court to the Commissioner of Justice creditor.

This transmission takes the form of a report containing the following information:

  • Name, forenames and domicile of the creditor (in the case of a legal person, its registered office)
  • Name, forenames and domicile of the debtor
  • Name and address of the company employing the debtor
  • The amount for which the entry was authorized.

The Commissioner of Justice must then forward these minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.

From the transmission of the wage attachment procedure, the creditor has 3 months to confirm to the Commissioner of Justice, by all means, his will to continue the wage attachment procedure. The Commissioner of Justice must enter this confirmation on the numerical register of wage attachments.

Next, the creditor must ask the National Chamber of Commissioners of Justice to appoint a dispatching justice commissioner, and the Commissioner of Justice must then forward the minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.

The wage attachment procedure shall then continue in accordance with the rules applicable to wage attachments entered into on or after 1er July 2025.

FYI  

The rules on the calculation of the amount of seizure and the types of revenue that can be seized remain the same.

Reminder of the stage of appealing to the judge

1. Conditions to be met before filing a request

The creditor must have a enforceable title noting a claim cash (amount quantified and not disputed by the debtor) and due (payment due).

The creditor seeking to obtain unpaid maintenance may resort to this procedure. However, it may prefer to initiate a procedure for direct payment (procedure for recovering unpaid payments from the application up to 6 months before the application).

2. Appeal to the judge

The competent judge shall be the enforcement judge the court of law on which the debtor's domicile depends.

If the debtor is resident abroad or has no known domicile, it is the enforcement judge of the court on which the debtor's employer's domicile depends.

The creditor may himself seize enforcement judge, or to call upon a lawyer, or a bailiff (now called a commissioner of justice) or notary within the jurisdiction of the competent court, or any other person who has a power of attorney.

Who shall I contact

To enter the enforcement judge, one shall be lodged or sent by post to the secretariat-registry of the tribunal request, accompanied by a copy of the enforceable title.

The request may be made on free paper or may be made with the form cerfa no. 15708.

The request must contain the following information:

  • Name, forenames, occupation, domicile, nationality, date and place of birth of the creditor
  • The name and address of the person against whom the application is made, or, if the application is legal person, its name and registered office
  • Subject matter of the request
  • Name and address of the debtor's employer
  • Separate statement of the amounts claimed in principal (i.e. the amount initially due), the costs and interest due and the indication of the interest rate
  • Information concerning the payment of the seized amounts.
Who shall I contact

How is the attempt at conciliation before the judge going?

1. Summons to the hearing

The creditor and the debtor shall be convened at least 15 days before the date of the conciliation hearing.

FYI  

At the hearing, it is possible to be represented, in particular by a lawyer (fee-based approach).

2. During the hearing

The enforcement judge tries to agree between the creditor and the debtor, in particular by granting payment periods or by providing for reimbursement by partial payments.

If the debtor does not appear, the judge may order the seizure, unless he considers that a new summons is necessary.

At the end of the hearing

The hearing is concluded differently, depending on whether or not an agreement has been reached between the creditor and the debtor:

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Agreement is reached

One conciliation report is written. It is signed by the creditor and the debtor. Wage attachment does not occur.

Warning  

If the debtor fails to comply with the undertakings given at the hearing, the creditor may resume the wage attachment procedure.

The disagreement persists

2 possible outcomes, depending on whether or not the debtor contested the proceedings during the hearing:

The debtor did not contest the seizure

One non-conciliation report is written. It shall indicate the amount of the claim in respect of which attachment may be made.

The Registry of the Court shall transmit the procedure for attachment on salary to the Commissioner of Justice of the creditor.

This transmission takes the form of a report containing the following information:

  • Name, forenames and domicile of the creditor (in the case of a legal person, its registered office)
  • Name, forenames and domicile of the debtor
  • Name and address of the company employing the debtor
  • The amount for which the entry was authorized.

The Commissioner of Justice must then forward these minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.

From the transmission of the wage attachment procedure, the creditor has 3 months to confirm to the Commissioner of Justice, by all means, his will to continue the wage attachment procedure. The Commissioner of Justice must enter this confirmation on the numerical register of wage attachments.

Next, the creditor must ask the National Chamber of Commissioners of Justice to appoint a dispatching justice commissioner, and the Commissioner of Justice must then forward the minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.

The wage attachment procedure shall then continue in accordance with the rules applicable to wage attachments entered into on or after 1er July 2025.

FYI  

The rules on the calculation of the amount of seizure and the types of revenue that can be seized remain the same.

The debtor contested the seizure

One non-conciliation report is written.

The enforcement judge shall decide on the challenge immediately or at a subsequent hearing.

When the enforcement judge authorizes the attachment of wages, and as soon as this judgment is no longer subject to appeal (because the time limit for appeal has expired, or because it is no longer possible to appeal), the procedure for attachment of wages is transmitted by the registry of the court to the commissioner of justice of the creditor.

This transmission takes the form of a report containing the following information:

  • Name, forenames and domicile of the creditor (in the case of a legal person, its registered office)
  • Name, forenames and domicile of the debtor
  • Name and address of the company employing the debtor
  • The amount for which the entry was authorized.

The Commissioner of Justice must then forward these minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.

From the transmission of the wage attachment procedure, the creditor has 3 months to confirm to the Commissioner of Justice, by all means, his will to continue the wage attachment procedure. The Commissioner of Justice must enter this confirmation on the numerical register of wage attachments.

Next, the creditor must ask the National Chamber of Commissioners of Justice to appoint a dispatching justice commissioner, and the Commissioner of Justice must then forward the minutes to the dispatching justice commissioner.

The wage attachment procedure shall then continue in accordance with the rules applicable to wage attachments entered into on or after 1er July 2025.

FYI  

The rules on the calculation of the amount of seizure and the types of revenue that can be seized remain the same.

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