What is a Mahnbescheid?
Court payment order.
A court-issued demand for payment — you have 14 days to object or it becomes enforceable.
Definition
A Mahnbescheid is a court payment order issued by a German Amtsgericht (district court) acting as Mahngericht, at the request of a creditor. It is part of the Mahnverfahren (simplified court payment procedure under §§ 688–703d ZPO) and represents the court's neutral forwarding of the creditor's claim — not a judgment that the claim is valid. You have exactly 14 days from delivery to file a Widerspruch (written objection); if you do not, the creditor can apply for a Vollstreckungsbescheid and begin collecting.
Who sends it
The Amtsgericht acting as Mahngericht. The underlying creditor is stated in the body. Delivery is by Postzustellungsurkunde (yellow envelope with red stripe).
What it’s asking for
Either payment of the stated amount (plus interest and costs) within 14 days, or a written Widerspruch within 14 days. If you do nothing, the creditor applies for a Vollstreckungsbescheid and enforcement begins.
Your deadline
Typical next steps
- Check the stated creditor and the amount — verify whether you actually owe the money.
- If you dispute the claim, file a written Widerspruch immediately. You can use the tear-off slip attached to the Mahnbescheid or write to the court.
- The Widerspruch does not need a detailed argument — you just need to state that you object. The creditor then has to file a normal lawsuit.
- If you agree with the amount, paying it within 14 days closes the matter without a permanent court record.
- If the deadline has already passed, you may still be able to file a belated Einspruch against a Vollstreckungsbescheid — act immediately.
Stated consequences under German law
After the 14-day window, the creditor applies for a Vollstreckungsbescheid. This is an immediately enforceable title: a Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiff) can seize assets, garnish wages, or levy bank accounts. A record also appears in public credit registers (e.g. SCHUFA).
Frequently asked questions
Does a Mahnbescheid mean I definitely owe the money?
No. The Mahngericht issues it without examining whether the claim is valid — it simply forwards the creditor's request. If you dispute the claim, file a Widerspruch and the creditor must then prove the debt in ordinary court proceedings.
How do I file a Widerspruch?
Use the tear-off reply slip attached to the Mahnbescheid and return it to the court by post. The Widerspruch can be a single sentence: "Ich erhebe Widerspruch gegen den Mahnbescheid vom [date], Aktenzeichen [number]." No reason is required at this stage.
What is the yellow envelope with a red stripe?
That is a Postzustellungsurkunde (PZU) — recorded delivery by post. The date printed on it is legally the date of delivery, from which the 14-day deadline runs. Save the envelope as evidence.
The amount on the Mahnbescheid is inflated. Can I object to only part of it?
Yes. Your Widerspruch can specify which part of the claim you accept and which part you dispute. The creditor then proceeds to court for the disputed part only.
How does Aplet help with a Mahnbescheid?
Aplet identifies the creditor, the stated amount, the exact delivery date (from the Postzustellungsurkunde data in the letter), and the 14-day deadline. It explains the Widerspruch process in plain English and flags whether the deadline has already passed.
Related letters
Get yours explained in 60 seconds
Aplet reads German Amtsdeutsch — the dense, formal bureaucratic register — and returns a plain-English summary with the sender, meaning, required action, deadline, and consequences of inaction.