Legal Escalation
Legal escalation means pursuing debt recovery through the court system when amicable collection fails. This includes attorney demand letters, lawsuits, and judgment enforcement. It's the last resort—but sometimes the only way to recover what you're owed.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Legal collection involves significant costs and jurisdictional complexity—consult qualified counsel for your specific situation.
Last updated:Operating worldwide with offices in Miami, Dubai, São Paulo, Zurich, London, Istanbul
When to Consider Legal Escalation
Legal action should be a last resort after amicable collection has failed. Consider it when:
- Amicable collection has been attempted for 60-90 days without success
- The debtor is non-responsive or refuses to engage
- The debt amount justifies the legal costs involved
- The debtor has identifiable assets for enforcement
- The statute of limitations hasn't expired in the relevant jurisdiction
- You have strong documentation (contract, invoices, delivery proof)
Legal Options Available
Different tools for different situations. We recommend the most effective approach for your case.
Demand Letters (Attorney-Signed)
Formal legal demand on law firm letterhead. Often prompts payment without court action.
Court Proceedings
Filing suit in appropriate jurisdiction, managing litigation through judgment.
Asset Tracing
Locating debtor assets before legal action to ensure enforcement is viable.
Judgment Enforcement
Converting court victories into actual payment—garnishment, liens, seizure.
How Legal Escalation Works
Our five-step process from assessment through enforcement.
Viability Assessment
We evaluate whether legal action makes sense: debt amount vs. costs, debtor solvency, jurisdiction, documentation strength.
Attorney Selection
We assign local counsel in the debtor's jurisdiction with relevant expertise and provide cost estimates.
Pre-Litigation Demand
Attorney-signed demand letter giving the debtor final opportunity to pay before court filing.
Litigation Management
If filing proceeds, we manage the case through court: service, filings, hearings, judgment.
Enforcement
After judgment, we pursue enforcement: garnishment, liens, asset seizure—whatever's available in the jurisdiction.
What We Need From You
Legal action requires strong documentation. The more you provide, the stronger your case:
- Signed contract with payment terms
- All invoices with dates and amounts
- Proof of delivery or service completion
- Correspondence showing debt acknowledgment
- Record of previous collection attempts
- Any partial payments received
- Debtor's legal entity name and current address
- Known debtor assets (property, accounts, equipment)
- Statement of account showing current balance
Realistic Expectations
Timelines: Legal collection takes months, not weeks. Uncontested cases may resolve in 2-3 months. Contested litigation can take 6-18 months. International cases may take longer.
Costs: Legal fees add up. We provide detailed cost estimates before proceeding. Sometimes the cost-benefit doesn't make sense—we'll tell you if so.
Outcomes: Even winning in court doesn't guarantee collection. If the debtor has no assets, enforcement may be impossible. We assess collectability before recommending legal action.
No guarantees. Courts decide cases based on evidence and law. We can't promise specific outcomes. We provide honest assessment of litigation risk and likelihood of success.
When Legal Escalation Is NOT Right
- Debts where legal costs exceed likely recovery
- Debtors with no identifiable assets (judgment-proof)
- First attempt at collection—try amicable first
- Consumer debts—we focus on B2B only
- Debts past the statute of limitations
- Cases where you lack documentation to prove the debt
Frequently Asked Questions
Interactive Collection Tools
Assess whether legal action is right for your situation.