Letter from the Amtsgericht (local court): Mahnbescheid, Vollstreckungsbescheid, Pfändung
A letter from the Amtsgericht (local court) in a yellow envelope is a formally delivered document (förmliche Zustellung). Deadlines start on the day the postal worker wrote on the envelope. For a Mahnbescheid (court payment order) and a Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order) you have only two weeks. Important: for a Mahnbescheid, the court has not checked whether the claim is justified. You decide whether to object.
Typical letters
- Mahnbescheid (court payment order)Widerspruch (objection) within two weeks of delivery. The date on the yellow envelope counts. As long as no Vollstreckungsbescheid has been issued, a later Widerspruch is still taken into account.
- Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order)Einspruch (objection) within two weeks of delivery. The date on the yellow envelope counts.
- Pfändungs- und Überweisungsbeschluss (garnishment order)To convert your account into a P-Konto with protection for a balance that has already been seized, you have one month from delivery of the order to the bank. The bank only pays seized money to the creditor after the end of the following month.
In which role is the Amtsgericht writing to me?
As the Mahngericht (court for payment orders), the Amtsgericht handles applications from creditors for a Mahnbescheid. In many federal states (Bundesländer), one central Mahngericht is responsible. It does not have to be located where you live.
As the Vollstreckungsgericht (enforcement court), the Amtsgericht where you live issues a Pfändungs- und Überweisungsbeschluss (garnishment order) when a creditor with an enforceable title (Titel) applies for it, for example against your bank or your employer. The Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiffs) are also based at the Amtsgericht.
How do I reply to the court?
Always give the Geschäftsnummer (case number) shown at the top of the letter. A form for the Widerspruch (objection) comes with the Mahnbescheid. Against a Vollstreckungsbescheid you write the Einspruch (objection) yourself. You do not need a lawyer for either.
Send your reply in a way that lets you prove it arrived in time, for example by Einwurf-Einschreiben (registered letter with proof of delivery to the letterbox). What counts is when the letter reaches the court, not when you send it.
Write to the court in German. The forms and the templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.
How do I recognise a real Mahnbescheid?
A real Mahnbescheid comes by post in a yellow envelope with a delivery note (Zustellungsvermerk), not by email. It names the Mahngericht as the sender. If in doubt, check the court and the case number using contact details you have looked up yourself.
A debt collection agency (Inkassobüro) cannot send a Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiff) without a court title (gerichtlicher Titel).
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to respond to a Mahnbescheid?
No. You can file the Widerspruch and the Einspruch in the payment order procedure yourself. For large amounts or an unclear legal situation, advice is useful, for example from a Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre).
Does the four-day rule apply to the Amtsgericht?
No. A Mahnbescheid and a Vollstreckungsbescheid are formally delivered (förmlich zugestellt). The deadline starts on the delivery date written on the envelope, even if the letter was only put in your letterbox.
What is the difference between a Mahnbescheid and a Vollstreckungsbescheid?
The Mahnbescheid is the first stage. With a Widerspruch you stop the procedure. The Vollstreckungsbescheid follows if you did not object. It is already an enforceable title (Vollstreckungstitel), and you can only challenge it with an Einspruch.
Can I write to the court in English?
Write to the court in German. German courts work in German, so a letter in German is the safest way to make sure your Widerspruch or Einspruch is understood and processed. The templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.
Sources (German law and official pages)
- § 692 Mahnbescheid (ZPO)
- § 694 Widerspruch gegen den Mahnbescheid (ZPO)
- § 700 Einspruch gegen den Vollstreckungsbescheid (ZPO)
- § 339 Einspruchsfrist (ZPO)
- § 829 Pfändung einer Geldforderung (ZPO)
- § 850k Einrichtung und Beendigung des Pfändungsschutzkontos (ZPO)
- § 899 Pfändungsfreier Betrag; Übertragung (ZPO)
- § 180 Ersatzzustellung durch Einlegen in den Briefkasten (ZPO)
- Verbraucherzentrale: Gerichtliches Mahnverfahren, was tun bei einem Mahnbescheid?
- Verbraucherzentrale: Das P-Konto als Schutz vor Kontopfändung
Research as of: 10 November 2026