Kohtutäitur

Kohtutäitur is the Estonian term for a court bailiff or enforcement officer who is responsible for enforcing court decisions and other enforceable orders, as well as collecting debts and ensuring the service of documents. Kohtutäiturid operate within the modern Estonian civil procedure system to implement judgments and enforce obligations when voluntary compliance is lacking.

Their powers include initiating and conducting enforcement proceedings after a court decision or other enforceable order, attaching debtors’ assets, seizing movable and sometimes immovable property, freezing bank accounts, and arranging public auctions of seized property. They may also perform acts such as serving summons and enforcement documents, issuing enforcement orders to third parties, and providing information about the debtor’s assets. The aim is to secure payment or performance while safeguarding the rights of all parties and maintaining due process.

Kohtutäiturid are licensed professionals and operate under the regulation of the Bailiffs Act. They are members of and overseen by the Estonian Chamber of Bailiffs and Trustees (Kohtutäiturite ja pankrotihaldurite koda), an organization that coordinates professional standards and disciplinary matters. The enforcement system is supervised in cooperation with the judiciary and relevant state authorities to ensure legality, transparency, and accountability.

In role, kohtutäiturit act on the basis of court decisions or other enforceable orders and must follow applicable law, procedures, and safeguards. Parties affected by enforcement acts have the right to challenge actions in court and to seek remedies through the legal system.