Debt Collection Lawyers in Colombia
Recover unpaid loans, invoices and debts in Colombia with English-speaking lawyers who know how to get results.
Lending money or doing business in Colombia and then not getting paid is one of the most common problems foreigners bring to us. Maybe the debtor stopped answering your messages, or keeps promising to pay next month. Either way, Colombian law gives creditors strong tools to recover what they're owed, including freezing the debtor's bank accounts and property. LCG-Colombia represents foreign individuals and companies in debt recovery across Colombia, and we can handle your case while you're abroad.
Debts We Recover
Our litigation attorneys handle significant debts, starting at USD 50,000 or the equivalent in Colombian pesos or another currency. At that level, court action and asset freezes make financial sense, and we can put the resources into your case that it needs.
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Private Loans and Investments
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Many of our clients lent a large sum to a business partner, friend or family member in Colombia, or invested in a venture that never paid them back. You can recover these debts even if the arrangement was informal, although written proof makes the process much faster.
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Promissory Notes and Bills of Exchange
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A signed promissory note (pagaré) or bill of exchange (letra de cambio) is one of the strongest documents you can have in Colombia. Courts can order payment on it directly, without a full trial to prove the debt.
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Private Mortgage Loans
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If you lent money secured against a property in Colombia and the borrower stopped paying, the mortgage lets us go directly after that property to recover what you're owed.
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Unpaid Property Sale Balances
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Foreigners who sell property in Colombia sometimes agree to receive part of the price in installments, and then the buyer stops paying. We recover the outstanding balance and enforce any guarantees in the sale agreement.
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Unpaid Business Sale Payments
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If you sold a business, shares or assets in Colombia and the buyer hasn't paid the agreed price, we can enforce the sale agreement and pursue the buyer for the balance.
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Commercial Invoices and Supply Contracts
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When a Colombian company owes you for goods, services, exports or professional work, we can recover the debt through negotiation or court action. Accepted electronic invoices can be enforced directly in court, in the same way as a promissory note.
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Guarantees and Company Debts
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When a company owes you money and a director, shareholder or other person personally guaranteed the debt, we can pursue both the company and the guarantor.
How Debt Collection Works in Colombia
Step 1: Formal Demand and Negotiation
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Most cases start with a formal demand letter from our lawyers, known as cobro prejurídico. Many debtors pay, or agree to a payment plan, once they realize a lawyer is involved and court action is next. When a settlement makes sense, we put it in writing so it can be enforced if the debtor breaks it.
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Step 2: Enforcement Proceedings (Proceso Ejecutivo)
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If the debtor doesn't pay, we file an enforcement claim, known as a proceso ejecutivo. This is a fast-track process for debts backed by a document that shows a clear, specific and due obligation, called a título ejecutivo. Promissory notes, cheques, accepted invoices, written loan agreements, leases and signed conciliation agreements can all qualify.
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The judge reviews the document and issues a payment order against the debtor. The debtor's options to defend are much narrower than in a regular lawsuit, especially against a promissory note or bill of exchange. Unlike most civil cases, this kind of claim doesn't require a conciliation attempt first.
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Debts Without a Promissory Note
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If you lent money without a formal document, there are still options. For smaller debts, up to 40 times the Colombian monthly minimum wage, the proceso monitorio lets a judge order the debtor to pay. If the debtor doesn't respond or pay, the order becomes enforceable. If they dispute it, the case continues as a short trial. Larger informal debts need a regular lawsuit to prove the debt first. Messages, bank transfers and witnesses can all be used as evidence. For how a regular lawsuit works, see our guide to Filing a Lawsuit in Colombia.
Freezing the Debtor's Assets
In enforcement proceedings, we can ask the court to freeze the debtor's assets at the same time as we file the claim. This happens before the debtor is notified, so they don't get the chance to move money or transfer property first.
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Assets that can be frozen include:
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Bank accounts
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Real estate
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Vehicles
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A portion of wages above the minimum wage
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Shares in companies
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Frozen assets can then be seized and sold to pay the debt. We can search public registries to find property and vehicles registered in the debtor's name.
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Recovery depends on the debtor having assets in Colombia that can be reached. We'll check this before recommending court action, so you don't spend money chasing a debtor who has nothing.
Interest and Costs
You can claim the original debt plus late payment interest. Late interest can't exceed the maximum legal rate, which is certified by the Superintendencia Financiera and changes regularly. If you win, the court can also order the debtor to pay your court costs. For a breakdown of legal fees and typical timelines, see our guide to the Cost of a Lawsuit in Colombia.
Documents You'll Need
Gather whatever you have that proves the debt, such as:
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Promissory notes, bills of exchange or cheques
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Loan agreements, contracts or leases
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Invoices and delivery records
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Bank transfer receipts
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WhatsApp messages, emails or other messages where the debtor acknowledges the debt
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The debtor's full name and cédula (ID) number, if you have it
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Don't worry if your paperwork isn't complete. We'll review what you have and tell you the best route.
Recovering a Debt From Outside Colombia
You don't need to be in Colombia to recover a debt here. With a power of attorney signed in your home country, our lawyers can send demands, file the claim and pursue the debtor's assets for you. Find out more about working with our litigation lawyers from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
I lent money to my partner without any paperwork. Can I get it back?
Possibly. Bank transfers, messages and witnesses can prove a loan. For smaller amounts, the proceso monitorio is designed for exactly this situation. For larger amounts, a regular lawsuit is needed first.
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How long do I have to collect a debt?
It depends on the document. Claims on a promissory note or bill of exchange generally expire three years after the due date, and other debts have different limits. Contact us as soon as possible so your claim doesn't expire.
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What if the debtor has no money?
If the debtor has no bank accounts, property or income in Colombia, a court order may not recover anything. That's why we check for assets before recommending court action.
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Can I charge interest on the debt?
Yes. You can claim late payment interest from the due date, up to the maximum rate allowed by law.
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Do I have to try conciliation before filing?
Not for enforcement proceedings based on a promissory note or other título ejecutivo. You can go straight to court.
Meet Isabel
Partner, LCG-Colombia
With more than eight years of legal experience, Isabel helps foreign nationals and businesses recover money owed to them in Colombia, from unpaid personal loans and defaulted contracts to promissory notes and guaranteed debts. She brings enforcement proceedings through the Colombian courts and, where needed, asks the court to seize the debtor's assets, so clients abroad can recover what they are owed without traveling to Colombia.