What is a Mahnbescheid?
A Mahnbescheid is an official form from the German court that handles payment order procedures. It means someone is making a claim against you, but it is not a court judgment.
How to recognise a Mahnbescheid
The sender is a central Mahngericht (payment order court), for example the Amtsgericht Wedding or the Amtsgericht Hünfeld depending on the state, not the local court where you live. The form shows a case number (Geschäftsnummer), the person or company making the claim, and the amount claimed. A Widerspruch (objection) form is enclosed.
What a Mahnbescheid is not
It is not a judgment and not an enforceable title. The court has only checked that the application is formally complete, not whether the claim itself is justified.
Your two week deadline runs from the date of service (Zustellung), not from the date printed on the document. See the page Mahnbescheid deadline for details and a worked example.
Your options
- Pay, if you believe the claim is justified.
- File a Widerspruch, in full or in part, if you disagree.
- Do nothing: a Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order) can then follow, and enforcement is already possible on that basis.
How Catius Documents helps
We take down the details from your Mahnbescheid and, if you decide to, prepare a Widerspruch letter. The price is 29 EUR including VAT, one time.