What to write, where to submit, how much to pay, and why the court might refuse
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You have the arbitration court’s decision in hand—do you know exactly what to do next to avoid wasting a month correcting errors in your application?
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On what grounds can a state court refuse to issue a writ of execution—and how can these risks be eliminated in advance?
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How can I speed up the process of receiving a writ of execution and avoid the standard two-month wait?
After receiving an arbitration decision, most creditors make one of two mistakes: either they wait for the debtor to pay, or they submit an application with errors and waste additional weeks correcting it. This guide will help avoid both scenarios.
Where to apply
An application for a writ of execution based on an arbitration court decision is filed with a district (city) court. Jurisdiction is determined by the debtor’s location or residence. For legal entities, it is determined by their registered address. For individuals, it is determined by their declared residential address.
If the debtor has changed their address after filing a claim, check the current address in the Register of Enterprises or through the PMLP immediately before filing the claim.
What should be in the application?
The application is made in writing and must contain the following.
Name of the court to which the application is submitted.
Applicant’s details: name, registration number, legal address for legal entities; first name, last name, personal identification number, address for individuals.
Debtor data in the same format.
Reference to the arbitral award: name of the court, date of the award, case number, brief summary of the operative part.
Request for issuance of a writ of execution for compulsory execution of the decision.
Information about the bank account to which the collection should be made - if the decision is to collect funds.
List of attached documents.
Attached documents
The original or a notarized copy of the arbitration award
A document confirming payment of the state fee
If the application is submitted by a representative, a power of attorney is required.
If the debtor is a legal entity: an extract from the Register of Enterprises confirming the current legal address
State duty after the April 2025 reform
Effective April 1, 2025, the fee for issuing a writ of execution based on an arbitration court decision will be 1% of the awarded amount, but no more than €750. The minimum fee is €10 for amounts up to €1,000.
For comparison, before the reform, the maximum was €285. For larger amounts, the fee has increased significantly. Keep this in mind when planning.
Reasons for refusal - and how to avoid them
Article 536 of the Latvian Civil Procedure Code establishes a closed list of grounds for which the court may refuse to issue a writ of execution. If none of these grounds apply, the court is obligated to issue the writ.
The arbitration agreement was invalid. Ensure that the proper clause was included in the case and that it was valid at the time of its conclusion. Attach the text of the agreement with the clause, if necessary.
The party was not properly notified. The arbitral tribunal was obligated to notify the defendant—make sure the case file contains proof of notification.
The arbitration court does not have jurisdiction over the subject matter. Standard commercial disputes are within its jurisdiction, but labor disputes and disputes over evictions are not.
The decision violates Latvia’s public policy and is applied extremely rarely—only when it clearly contradicts fundamental principles of law.
How to speed up the receipt of a writ of execution
The standard period is up to two months. However, in practice, the process can be expedited.
Submit a complete set of documents at once - any deficiency means additional time for correction.
Two to three weeks after filing, send a written request to the court registry regarding the status of the case. Courts respond to active applicants.
If the deadline is being delayed without objective justification, file a complaint regarding inaction. This is a legal mechanism for expediting the process.
A writ of execution is the final step between winning on paper and getting the money in your account. Don’t delay getting it.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.