# Received a bedingter Zahlungsbefehl?

Catius Documents explains what your Zahlungsbefehl (Austrian court payment order) says, how long your deadline really runs, and prepares your Einspruch (objection) if you decide to file one.

## What a bedingter Zahlungsbefehl means for you

The bedingter Zahlungsbefehl (conditional payment order) is the start of the court payment order procedure. For money claims up to 75,000 euro the court must issue it, without a hearing and without hearing you. It is not yet a judgment: the court has not examined the claim, it has only processed the claimant's application formally. The Zahlungsbefehl itself says exactly that: "Auf Grund der vom Gericht nicht überprüften Behauptungen der klagenden Partei" (on the basis of the claimant's assertions, which the court has not verified).

> **Important: your four week deadline starts with the service (Zustellung) of the Zahlungsbefehl on you, not with the date printed on the Zahlungsbefehl.** If the letter was deposited at the post office (Hinterlegung), it counts as served on the first day of the collection period, even if you collected it later. Write down that day.

## Two deadlines in the same letter

The Zahlungsbefehl mentions 14 days and four weeks. The 14 days are the period for voluntary payment. For the Einspruch you have four weeks. This deadline cannot be extended.

## Bezirksgericht or Landesgericht

Look at the Geschäftszahl (case number) in the header. If it contains the letter **C** (for example 12 C 345/26k), a Bezirksgericht (district court) is handling the case: there a short Einspruch without reasons and without a lawyer is enough, even for claims above 5,000 euro. If it contains the letters **Cg**, a Landesgericht (regional court) is handling the case: there the Einspruch must have the content of a statement of defence (Klagebeantwortung) and be signed by a lawyer. For that case we prepare no document and advise you to see a lawyer immediately.

## What Catius Documents does for you

- Takes down your details from the Zahlungsbefehl: court, Geschäftszahl, claim.
- Works out your deadline from the day of service, taking public holidays and Good Friday into account.
- Prepares an Einspruch for the Bezirksgericht, ready to print and sign.

![What the finished letter looks like. Sample with invented details.](/samples/at-einspruch_full.png)

What the finished letter looks like. Sample with invented details.

## Price

**9 EUR** including VAT, one time.

No subscription, no hidden fees.

## What Catius Documents is not

Catius Documents is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We prepare a document based on the information you give us; whether and how you file an Einspruch is your own decision. Bear in mind: after an Einspruch the proceedings continue, and the losing party reimburses the other side's costs. If the claim is large or you are unsure, we also recommend talking to a lawyer.

## Learn more

- [What is a bedingter Zahlungsbefehl?](/at/en/zahlungsbefehl/)
- [How does the Einspruch work?](/at/en/einspruch/)
- [When does the deadline start?](/at/en/frist/)
- [Frequently asked questions](/at/en/faq/)