Seize the enforcement judge (JEX)
Verified 01 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
Jurisdiction of the enforcement judge
Challenges that arise in connection with the forced execution of movable nature of an enforceable instrument introduced after 1er December 2024 fall within the jurisdiction of the judicial tribunal and neither of the JEX.
This transfer of conferral powers follows the repeal by decision No. 2023-1068 QPC of November 17, 2023 of the Constitutional Council.
A law is being passed.
On 13 March 2025, the Court of Cassation issued an opinion: the JEX remains competent for the challenge of a movable enforcement measure, even if it relates to intangible property and entry of remuneration.
You are one debtor or a creditor and you wish to refer the matter to the enforcement judge (JEX)? The JEX is a specialized judge of the judicial tribunal. He is responsible for difficulties concerning enforceable titles and challenges to seizures. It authorizes an urgent measure before a judicial decision. It allows a time limit for eviction. It shall be seized by assignment (or by query in some special cases). We present you the information you need to know for the seizure challenge, the urgent measure, the case of the time limit for rental eviction and other situations.
Careful : the procedure is different for the direct payment of child support and the foreclosure.
Dispute of seizure
Several types of seizure can be challenged before the enforcement judge (JEX).
The JEX intervenes when there is a challenge to enforcement a judicial or administrative decision with:
- ₪(or “seizure-allocation”)
- Seizure and sale
- Seizure of the vehicle
- Seizure of wages (or “seizure of wages”).
It's a commissioner of justice who is responsible for ensuring the enforcement of a decision. This decision must have been made beforehand served or notified to the debtor.
It's the debtor which disputed the seizure.
Please note
The JEX rules on disputes concerning the lawfulness of the prosecution of a public debt (example: tax debt, debt of a local authority, financial penalty). It may not intervene in administrative decisions concerning the obligation to pay the amount of the debt or its chargeability.
Depending on the type of seizure, the JEX to be seized by the debtor is different:
- ₪(or “seizure-allocation”) : it is the JEX of the debtor's place of residence.
- Seizure and sale : it is the JEX of the place of seizure.
- Seizure of the vehicle : it is the JEX of the debtor’s place of residence or the place where the vehicle is immobilized.
- Seizure of wages (or “seizure of wages”) : it is the JEX of the debtor's place of residence. If the debtor resides abroad or has no known domicile, this is the JEX of the domicile of the debtor's employer.
Who shall I contact
You must get a lawyer where the claim is greater than €10,000
If your income does not allow you to pay a lawyer, you can apply for legal aid.
Where the claim is less than €10,000, you may be represented by someone other than the lawyer.
If you wish to be represented at the hearing by another person, you can give them a power.
Power is one written document that allows the designated person to appear at the hearing and speak for and on your behalf.
The designated representative must be major. He must appear at the hearing with the power and one identity document.
You can use the following template to write your power:
In your authority, you must designate one of the following:
- Person with whom you live as a couple
- Your father or mother
- Your child
- Your brother or sister
- Your nephew or niece
- Your aunt or your uncle
- Person attached to your personal service or company (e.g. company lawyer or domestic worker).
If you go to the hearing, these same people are allowed to assist you in place of a lawyer.
FYI
The State, the regions, the departments, the communes and their public institutions may be represented by a civil servant, an official of their administration or by a lawyer.
For the seizures of remuneration, you may be represented by a lawyer or a commissioner of justice the jurisdiction of the court, which is exempt from the requirement to produce a power of attorney. You can also be represented by a agent of your choice with power of attorney.
How to enter the JEX?
The JEX shall be entered by assignment issued by a commissioner of justice.
Who shall I contact
One fiscal stamp from €50 must be attached to the legal claim, unless the applicant is a beneficiary of legal aid.
FYI
Seizing the JEX does not prevent the seizure from continuing. But there is an exception in terms of garnishment-sale (stay of proceedings). In practice, often, the commissioners of justice prefer to suspend the seizure operation, pending the decision of the JEX.
What can the JEX decide?
Verify the admissibility of the action
The JEX verifies the admissibility of the challenge of the debtor. It may declare the invalidity or release irregular, unnecessary or abusive seizure. In all cases, the JEX issues a court decision.
Grant a deadline for payment of the claim
The JEX may grant a time limit for payment of the claim. It may decide to defer payment of the debt or to defer payment of the amount to be paid in the limit of 24 months.
Arranging a decision
The JEX may also reduce the interest rate to be paid by the debtor, without this rate being less than legal interest rate.
How is the JEX decision notified?
The decisions rendered by the JEX are notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR) from the Registry to the Parties.
It is possible to do signify the decision by a court commissioner if the notification by the registry has failed (i.e. if the PRRA returns to the court, because the debtor has not gone to pick it up at the post office).
The call is possible against JEX decisions.
The lawyer is mandatory for appeal and for the proceedings before the court of appeal.
The appeal must be made in the 15 days from the notification of the decision, i.e. upon receipt of the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (RLAR), at the Registry of the Court of Appeal.
If the PRRA could not be delivered to the person concerned, the appeal period shall run from the delivery of the meaning.
JEX decisions are enforceable by provision, i.e. they can be executed even if an appeal is made. The time limit for appeal and the appeal procedure shall not have suspensive effect on the decision of the JEX. It is possible to apply to the first President of the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution if there are serious grounds for annulment or alteration of the JEX decision (and not the implementing measure).
Urgent action
A creditor may wish to avoidinsolvency possible of its debtor by practicing an urgent measure. That's what we call a precautionary measure. It can take the form of a preservation, of a seizure-apprehension or a judicial security (precautionary judicial mortgage).
The JEX intervenes in case of:
- Preservation
- Seizure-apprehension (delivery or return of goods)
- Judicial security (mortgage).
Depending on the type of seizure, the JEX to be seized by the debtor is different:
- Preservation : it is the JEX that authorized the measure or the JEX of the debtor's domicile.
- Seizure-apprehension : it is the JEX that made the order or the JEX of the place where the addressee of the document resides or the JEX of the debtor's domicile.
- Judicial security (mortgage) : the JEX authorized the measure.
Please note
Where the debtor lives abroad, the competent JEX shall be the JEX of the place of enforcement of the measure.
You must get a lawyer when the claim is greater than €10,000.
If your income does not allow you to pay a lawyer, you can apply for legal aid.
Where the claim is less than €10,000, you may be represented by someone other than the lawyer.
If you wish to be represented at the hearing by another person, you can give them a power.
Power is one written document that allows the designated person to appear at the hearing and speak for and on your behalf.
The designated representative must be major. He must appear at the hearing with the power and one identity document.
You can use the following template to write your power:
In your authority, you must designate one of the following:
- Person with whom you live as a couple
- Your father or mother
- Your child
- Your brother or sister
- Your nephew or niece
- Your aunt or your uncle
- Person attached to your personal service or company (e.g. company lawyer or domestic worker).
If you go to the hearing, these same people are allowed to assist you in place of a lawyer.
FYI
The State, the regions, the departments, the communes and their public institutions may be represented by a civil servant, an official of their administration or by a lawyer.
For the seizures of remuneration, you may be represented by a lawyer or a commissioner of justice the jurisdiction of the court, which is exempt from the requirement to produce a power of attorney. You can also be represented by a agent of your choice with a power of attorney.
The procedure varies depending on the situation:
Precautionary measure
How to enter the JEX?
The JEX is seized by a order on application at the request of the creditor, in duplicate, at the JEX of the place where the debtor resides. It must be accompanied by a slip of the parts for justify the urgent request.
Warning
One fiscal stamp from €50 must be attached to the legal claim, unless the applicant is a beneficiary of legal aid.
What can the JEX decide?
The JEX may decide to grant or refuse authorization for seizure where the creditor does not have an enforceable title. The JEX makes its decision on the basis of the file.
The decision rendered is a prescription. She is enforceable on minute, that is, it does not need to be served to the other party to be enforceable.
The JEX determines the amount of sums for which the precautionary measure is authorized and specifies the assets to which it relates. Otherwise, the prescription is null.
An application order that authorizes a precautionary measure has a validity period of 3 months from the day it is delivered.
The JEX authorization is null and void (it is no longer valid) if the precautionary measure has not been executed within 3 months of the order.
How to challenge the JEX decision?
Depending on the case, it is the creditor or the debtor who challenges the decision.
If it's the creditor, in the event of refusal of the JEX, it may call the decision within a period of 15 days from its pronouncement.
The appeal shall be made by a declaration or registered letter addressed to the JEX Registry, by a lawyer or by a public or ministerial officer empowered.
The JEX shall take one of the following actions:
- Make a new decision that amends or rescinds the order
- Forward the file to the Court of Appeal if he refuses to change his decision.
In the 2 cases, the JEX must inform the creditor of its decision within 1 month.
If it's the debtor, it may challenge the order on application of the JEX by a interim retraction.
The debtor enters the JEX by assignment. The lawyer is not mandatory.
The parties are called to a hearing contradictory where they can debate.
Judicial security
One judicial security may be requested, at protective title, real estate, goodwill, shares, shares and securities. It allows you to register a mortgage on property belonging to the debtor.
How to enter the JEX?
The JEX is seized by a order on application at the request of the creditor, in duplicate, at the JEX of the place where the debtor resides. It must be accompanied by a slip of the parts for justify the urgent request.
Warning
One fiscal stamp from €50 must be attached to the legal claim, unless the applicant is a beneficiary of legal aid.
In order for the application to be admissible, there must be evidence:
- that the debtor does owe money
- and that there is a risk that the debtor will attempt not to pay the amount due.
How does the JEX make its decision?
The judge makes his decision without the debtor be convened and without debate.
What can the JEX decide?
The JEX may decide to grant or refuse authorization for a judicial security right. The JEX makes its decision on the basis of the file.
If the JEX considers that the application is justified, it authorizes the registration of a provisional mortgage (also called precautionary mortgage) on one or more assets of the debtor.
The decision rendered is a prescription. She is enforceable on minute, that is, it does not need to be served to the other party to be enforceable.
The JEX decision, called the order, contains the following two pieces of information:
- Amount of receivable
- Property(s) concerned.
What can be done when the JEX decision is pronounced?
The creditor shall register the provisional mortgage in the land advertising service (ex-conservation of mortgages) where the building is located.
Registration must be made in the 3 months which follow the JEX decision and is valid for 3 years.
Then, a commissioner of justice (formerly judicial bailiff and judicial auctioneer) must be responsible forinform the debtor the registration of that mortgage within a period of Eight days.
After the provisional registration of that mortgage, it is necessary to take legal action, within a period of1 month, in order to obtain enforceable title.
From the time of obtaining the enforceable title, there is a period of 2 months to have the mortgage definitively registered in the service of land advertising.
How to challenge the JEX decision?
À the debtor's request, the JEX may order the measure to be lifted at any time.
The debtor enters the JEX by assignment. The lawyer is not mandatory.
The parties are called to a hearing contradictory where they can debate.
Deadline for eviction
À the continuation of a judicial decision, a debtor may have been ordered to leave the premises and be subject to future eviction from his home. If he considers that his relocation cannot take place under normal conditions and if he justifies a particular reason, he may refer the matter to the JEX. This allows you to request an additional time to leave the accommodation until eviction.
The competent JEX is that of the place where the accommodation is located.
You must get a lawyer when the claim is greater than €10,000.
If your income does not allow you to pay a lawyer, you can apply for legal aid.
Where the claim is less than €10,000, you may be represented by someone other than the lawyer.
If you wish to be represented at the hearing by another person, you can give them a power.
Power is one written document that allows the designated person to appear at the hearing and speak for and on your behalf.
The designated representative must be major. He must appear at the hearing with the power and one identity document.
You can use the following template to write your power:
In your authority, you must designate one of the following:
- Person with whom you live as a couple
- Your father or mother
- Your child
- Your brother or sister
- Your nephew or niece
- Your aunt or your uncle
- Person attached to your personal service or company (e.g. company lawyer or domestic worker).
If you go to the hearing, these same people are allowed to assist you in place of a lawyer.
FYI
The State, the regions, the departments, the communes and their public institutions may be represented by a civil servant, an official of their administration or by a lawyer.
For the seizures of remuneration, you may be represented by a lawyer or a commissioner of justice the jurisdiction of the court, which is exempt from the requirement to produce a power of attorney. You can also be represented by a agent of your choice with power of attorney.
How to enter the JEX?
To apply for a rental eviction period, you can use a form:
Request a time limit for an expulsion order - Application to the enforcement judge
The application must be accompanied by all the documents necessary to justify the situation of the debtor (family record book, last tax notice, certificates Caf, RSA, various invoices, steps and difficulties for your relocation...).
The debtor shall provide JEX with the following information:
- Reasons for applying, for example, loss of a job or difficulties in relocating.
- This has changed since the last court decision, for example, new charges.
- Any evidence capable of justifying the request.
Warning
One fiscal stamp from €50 must be contacted to initiate proceedings, unless the applicant is a beneficiary of legal aid.
The folder full must be sent to the JEX by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR) or deposited at the JEX Registry in the competent judicial court.
How does the hearing before the JEX take place?
The hearing before the JEX is oral, i.e. the parties express their requests and arguments orally.
During the proceedings, a party may always present its arguments in writing to the judge. In this case, she must justify having sent them to her opponent, before the hearing by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
During the proceedings, if the parties so request, they may be excused from attending a future hearing.
What can the JEX decide?
The JEX may decide to reject the request for additional time to leave the premises.
If the JEX decides on an additional period to leave the premises, it will be between 1 month and 12 months maximum.
In setting that time limit, the JEX shall take into account:
- the good will or ill will shown by the occupier in the performance of its obligations,
- the respective situations of the owner and the occupier (age, state of health, status as a casualty by acts of war, family or property situation of each of them, atmospheric circumstances, etc.),
- the steps that the occupant justifies having taken with a view to his relocation.
How does the JEX make its decision?
The decisions rendered by the JEX are notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR) from the Registry to the Parties.
It is possible to do signify the decision by a court commissioner if the notification by the registry has failed (i.e. if the PRRA returns to the court because the debtor has not gone to pick it up at the post office).
The call is possible against JEX decisions.
The lawyer is mandatory for appeal and for the proceedings before the court of appeal.
The appeal must be made in the 15 days from the notification of the decision, i.e. on receipt of the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR).
If the PRRA could not be delivered to the person concerned, the appeal period shall run from the delivery of the meaning.
JEX decisions are provisionally enforceablen, i.e. they can be executed even if an appeal is made. The time limit for appeal and the appeal procedure shall not have suspensive effect on the decision of the JEX. It is possible to apply to the first President of the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution if there are serious grounds for annulment or alteration of the JEX decision (and not the implementing measure).
Other
The JEX is not competent concerning the enforcement of criminal (fines), social (Urssaf), customs or salary debts (deduction from salary following overpayment).
The JEX may be affected by the following situations:
- Penalty payment
- Deadline for payment of a claim.
Depending on the type of claim, the JEX to be entered by the debtor is different:
Penalty payment
At the choice of the applicant, the competent JEX is that of the place of residence of the debtor or the enforcement of the measure.
Payment term
At the choice of the applicant, the competent JEX is that of the place of residence of the debtor or the enforcement of the measure.
You must get a lawyer when the claim is greater than €10,000.
If your income does not allow you to pay a lawyer, you can apply for legal aid.
Where the claim is less than €10,000, you may be represented by someone other than the lawyer.
If you wish to be represented at the hearing by another person, you can give them a power.
Power is one written document that allows the designated person to appear at the hearing and speak for and on your behalf.
The designated representative must be major. He must appear at the hearing with the power and one identity document.
You can use the following template to write your power:
In your authority, you must designate one of the following:
- Person with whom you live as a couple
- Your father or mother
- Your child
- Your brother or sister
- Your nephew or niece
- Your aunt or your uncle
- Person attached to your personal service or company (e.g. company lawyer or domestic worker).
If you go to the hearing, these same people are allowed to assist you in place of a lawyer.
FYI
The State, the regions, the departments, the communes and their public institutions may be represented by a civil servant, an official of their administration or by a lawyer.
For the seizures of remuneration, you may be represented by a lawyer or a commissioner of justice the jurisdiction of the court, which is exempt from the requirement to produce a power of attorney. You can also be represented by a agent of your choice with a power of attorney.
How to enter the JEX?
The JEX shall be entered by assignment issued by a commissioner of justice.
Who shall I contact
Warning
One fiscal stamp from €50 must be contacted to initiate proceedings, unless the applicant is a beneficiary of legal aid.
How does the hearing before the JEX take place?
The hearing before the JEX is oral, that is, the parties express their requests and arguments verbally.
During the proceedings, a party may always present its arguments in writing to the judge. In this case, she must justify having sent them to her opponent, before the hearing by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
During the proceedings, if the parties so request, they may be excused from attending a future hearing.
What can the JEX decide?
As regards on-call duty
This can be an initial application, liquidation or fixation for the future.
The JEX may pronounce a on-call duty to the person who does not fulfill an obligation.
It may also order him to damages and interest if the non-performance causes harm.
The JEX is also competent to liquidate the penalty payment, i.e. it sets the amount when the judge who pronounced it has not reserved this right for himself.
The amount of the provisional periodic penalty payment shall be assessed taking into account the conduct of the person to whom the order was issued and the difficulties he encountered in enforcing it.
The rate of the final penalty payment may never be changed upon its liquidation.
The provisional or final penalty payment shall be abolished in whole or in part if it is established that the non-execution or delay in the execution of the order of the court stems, in whole or in part, from a foreign cause.
With regard to the time limit for payment of a claim
The JEX may arrange for the financial enforcement of a conviction.
It may, taking into account the situation of the debtor and taking into account the needs of the creditor, postpone or stagger, up to 2 years, the payment of sums due.
By special and reasoned decision, the JEX may order that the sums corresponding to the deferred maturities bear interest at a reduced rate at least equal to the legal rate, or that the payments be charged first to the capital.
The JEX may make such measures subject to the performance by the debtor of acts which facilitate or guarantee the payment of the debt.
The JEX decision suspends the enforcement proceedings allegedly initiated by the creditor.
Please note
Payment terms are not applicable to indebtednessfood. The JEX may not grant time limits for payment of maintenance or compensatory benefit.
How is the JEX decision notified?
The decisions rendered by the JEX are notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR) from the Registry to the Parties.
It is possible to do signify the decision by a court commissioner if the notification by the registry has failed (i.e. if the PRRA returns to the court because the debtor has not gone to pick it up at the post office).
JEX decisions are provisionally enforceable, i.e. they can be enforced even if an appeal or an appeal in cassation is exercised.
The call is possible against JEX decisions.
The lawyer is mandatory for appeal and for the proceedings before the court of appeal.
The appeal must be made in the 15 days from the notification of the decision, i.e. on receipt of the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR).
If the PRRA could not be delivered to the person concerned, the appeal period shall run from the delivery of the meaning.
JEX decisions are enforceable by provision, i.e. they can be executed even if an appeal is made. The time limit for appeal and the appeal procedure shall not have suspensive effect on the decision of the JEX. It is possible to apply to the first President of the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution if there are serious grounds for annulment or alteration of the JEX decision (and not the implementing measure).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
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The informants who answer you belong to the Department of Justice.
General provisions
General provisions
Movable execution procedures
Movable execution procedures
Precautionary measures
Precautionary measures
Referral-retraction
Articles 504 and 505 (enforceability and finality of a decision)
Article 446-1 (hearing)
Article L3252-11 (representation in the event of seizure of remuneration)
Article 510 (grace period)
Article 1343-5 (decision of the JEX for the payment of a sum)
Article R243-21 (recovery of social security)
Article L213-5 (JEX functions)
Article 664-1 (Service of a decision)
Tax Stamp Contribution