# 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](/de/en/mahnbescheid-frist/) 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](/de/en/mahnbescheid-widerspruch/). The price is 9 EUR including VAT, one time.