Introduction

Existence of a claim

Issuance of enforcement order (writs of execution)

Existence of seizable assets or claims

Conditions of enforcement

Judicial authority

Other authorities

Competent authorities and persons

Operations

Difficulties in enforcement

Implementation of compulsory enforcement

General regime of enforcement procedures

Concept of penalty

Scope ratione personae

Material scope

Determination of penalty

Competence of judge

Powers of court

Effects of ruling ordering or rejecting penalty

Pronouncement of penalty

Substantive conditions

Procedural conditions

Role and powers of the judge

Effects of liquidation judgment

Liquidation of the penalty

Penalty

Conditions of implementation

Contesting the measures

Ordinary law on protective measures

Protective seizures

Judicial security interests (sûretés judiciaires)

Specific regimes

Interim protective measures (mesures conservatoires)

Seizure of claims for sums of money

Seizure of tangible movable property

Seizure of intangible rights

Enforcement measures on movable property

Real estate seizures

Evictions

Enforcement measures on real estate

Enforcement measures

5. Civil Enforcement Procedures

Pursuant to Article L. 111-2 of the Code of Civil Enforcement Procedures, “the creditor holding a writ of execution establishing a liquid and payable claim may pursue compulsory enforcement on the debtor's assets under the conditions specific to each enforcement measure.” The writ of execution must be based on a “certain, liquid, and enforceable claim” (créance certaine, liquide et exigible) . The criterion of certainty does not truly have an autonomous character and is merely a consequence of the liquidity and payability of the claim.

A claim is liquidated when it is valued in money or when the instrument contains all the elements necessary for its valuation . Indeed, when the claim can be calculated, it appears determinable . The amount does not need to be precisely quantified, but the court must be able to have at least an approximate perception of it. In fact, the judgment that orders the debtor to pay a sum, which, although not quantified, is determinable, establishes a liquid sum . However, a claim determined by a court decision that allows the claimant to carry out work and have it paid for half by the defendant is not liquid when it contains no indication of the volume, nature, and cost of the work to be carried out .

The criterion of the enforceability of the claim refers to the payment of an amount that can already be demanded. However, the creditor must be able to justify a formal notice or a reminder made to the debtor to demonstrate the enforceable nature of the claim . Conditional claims, term claims, or claims with successive execution are subject to the Code of Civil Enforcement Procedures, provided that the creditor respects the stipulated condition and term. Conversely, seizures cannot be applied to a merely contingent claim .

Cass. com., 23 May 2006, LawLex202300003501JBJ.

CPC exec., Art. L. 111-6. See, for applications, Cass. 2e civ., 8 December 2005, LawLex202300003498JBJ; 23 June 2016, LawLex202200010674JBJ; 22 September 2016, LawLex202200010671JBJ.

Cass. 2e civ., 6 June 2019, LawLex202200010682JBJ; 4 July 2007, LawLex202200010670JBJ; 13 July 2006, LawLex202200010669JBJ; 8 July 2004, LawLex202200009433JBJ.

Cass. 2e civ., 19 November 2008, LawLex202200010673JBJ.

Cass. 2e civ., 21 February 2013, LawLex202300000901JBJ.

Cass. 2e civ., 8 October 1997, LawLex202300003477JBJ.

Cass. 2e civ., 11 May 2000, LawLex202300003497JBJ.

Liquidated and enforceable claim

29. Liquidated and enforceable claim