Enforce a foreign judgment in France
Foreign judgment: which route leads to recognition or enforcement in France?
To use a foreign judgment in France, identify its country of origin, subject, enforceable status and the goal: recognition or enforcement against a person or asset. The applicable instrument, certificates, service evidence and translations may change the route. This navigator covers civil and commercial judgments; family-status decisions, criminal judgments and arbitral awards require separate routes. It prepares documents for review; it does not declare the judgment recognized or enforceable and does not start a French enforcement measure.
Jurisdiction: France · French law
Official route map
Follow the checkpoints in order without treating this map as a deadline calculator.
- 01In which country was the judgment issued?
Country of origin is one branch; the subject matter and applicable instrument may change the route first.
- 02What subject does the judgment concern?
Civil, commercial, family, criminal and arbitral matters may follow different regimes.
- 03Do you seek recognition or enforcement?
Giving legal effect and recovering against an asset are different goals.
- 04Is the judgment final or enforceable?
An official certificate or endorsement should establish status, not your reading alone.
- 05Was the other party properly informed?
Keep service documents and evidence for the applicable procedure.
- 06Is translation or legalisation required?
Language, origin and procedure determine which formalities need confirmation.
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In which country was the judgment issued?
Country of origin is one branch; the subject matter and applicable instrument may change the route first.
Verify this route against the cited official source and the complete document.
- EU_INSTRUMENT_VERIFY · Country of origin is one branch; the subject matter and applicable instrument may change the route first.
- NON_EU_RECOGNITION_VERIFY · Civil, commercial, family, criminal and arbitral matters may follow different regimes.
- STATUS_CERTIFICATE_MISSING · Giving legal effect and recovering against an asset are different goals.
- OUT_OF_SCOPE_MATTER · An official certificate or endorsement should establish status, not your reading alone.
In which country was the judgment issued?
Country of origin is one branch; the subject matter and applicable instrument may change the route first. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
What subject does the judgment concern?
Civil, commercial, family, criminal and arbitral matters may follow different regimes. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Do you seek recognition or enforcement?
Giving legal effect and recovering against an asset are different goals. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Is the judgment final or enforceable?
An official certificate or endorsement should establish status, not your reading alone. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Was the other party properly informed?
Keep service documents and evidence for the applicable procedure. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Is translation or legalisation required?
Language, origin and procedure determine which formalities need confirmation. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Is exequatur required?
The term does not automatically apply to every foreign decision; identify the governing regime. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Who carries out enforcement in France?
A lawyer and commissaire de justice may act at different stages after the judgment has been confirmed as enforceable in France. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.