Debt Recovery Lawyers in Cyprus
An unpaid debt is a business problem before it is a legal one, and the right strategy depends on the debtor, the amount and the evidence. Kleanthous & Platis recovers debts for businesses and individuals across Cyprus: unpaid invoices, loans, rent arrears, construction payments and cross-border claims. We are direct about prospects: if a claim is not worth pursuing, we tell you at the start, not after a year of fees.
How We Recover Debts
Demand and negotiation: a properly drafted letter before action, on law firm letterhead, resolves a substantial share of debts without proceedings
Court proceedings: we issue and pursue the claim, seek judgment in default where the debtor ignores proceedings, and press for early resolution where a defence has no substance
Settlement structuring: instalment agreements, guarantees and security, so a promise to pay actually gets honoured
Enforcement of judgment: registration of a charge (memo) over the debtor’s immovable property, attachment of movables, garnishee proceedings against bank accounts or third parties owing money to the debtor, and examination of the debtor’s means
Insolvency pressure where appropriate: statutory demands and winding-up or bankruptcy proceedings against debtors who can pay but will not
Cross-border recovery: enforcing your Cyprus judgment abroad, and foreign judgments or arbitral awards in Cyprus
What It Costs
For straightforward debt claims we offer a fixed fee for the letter before action stage, and clear staged estimates before each subsequent step, so the costs always stay proportionate to the amount at stake. Court fees and recoverable costs are explained up front: a successful claimant generally recovers a contribution towards legal costs from the debtor.
Start With a Free Assessment
Send us the invoice, contract or loan documents and a short history of the debt. We will tell you within one business day whether the claim is worth pursuing, the realistic timeline, and what it will cost. Email office@kleanthousplatis.com or call +357 22 680 330.
Frequently Asked Questions About Debt Recovery in Cyprus
Is my debt too old to recover?
Limitation periods apply in Cyprus and depend on the nature of the debt; many contractual debts must be pursued within six years, with important exceptions in both directions. Do not assume a debt is dead or alive without advice: send the paperwork and we will confirm the position.
The debtor is ignoring me. Does a lawyer’s letter really work?
Often, yes. A letter before action signals that proceedings are genuinely next, sets a deadline, and warns of costs and interest consequences. Debtors who ignore chasing emails frequently pay, or start negotiating, when the letter comes from a law firm.
What happens if the debtor does not respond to a court claim?
If a properly served debtor does not appear, judgment in default can be sought without a full trial. Judgment is then enforced against assets: property, bank accounts, receivables or movables. A debtor cannot avoid a claim just by staying silent.
The debtor has no assets. Is it worth suing?
Sometimes not, and we will say so plainly. Before recommending proceedings we consider what is known about the debtor’s property, business and banking position, and we can take steps to examine the debtor’s means. Litigation makes sense when there is something to enforce against, or genuine settlement leverage.
Can you recover debts from a company that is still trading but refuses to pay?
Yes. Apart from a court claim, a company that cannot or will not pay its due debts may face a statutory demand followed by winding-up proceedings. The prospect of a winding-up petition concentrates minds; it is a serious step and we advise carefully on when it is appropriate.
Related practice areas: Litigation & Arbitration, Corporate & Commercial, and Restructuring & Insolvency.