Kvarsökningssteg

Kvarsökningssteg is a term used in Swedish civil procedure to describe the sequence of steps involved in locating and pursuing a debtor’s assets in order to satisfy a judgment or other enforceable claim. The word is a compound of kvar (remaining), sökning (search), and steg (steps), and it is commonly associated with asset tracing and enforcement activities conducted by authorities such as the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden). Although not always a formally codified term in statute, it is widely used in legal literature, practice notes, and enforcement guidelines to outline the typical workflow.

In practice, kvarsökningssteg covers several stages. After a decision or judgment, enforcement proceedings begin with information gathering about the debtor’s financial situation. This may involve initiating asset searches through public records, financial data, and information supplied by the creditor or third parties. Based on the findings, enforcement authorities may implement measures to secure the claim, such as provisional freezes or other protective actions. The next phase often involves attaching or seizing assets (kvarstad) and arranging for the realization or sale of those assets to generate proceeds. The resulting funds are then distributed to creditors according to applicable priority rules. The process concludes with case closure, which may include follow-up if assets are insufficient or if new information emerges.

Kvarsökningssteg thus represents the practical progression from information gathering to asset realization in enforcement cases. Related terms include kvarstad (seizure pending action), utmätning (execution or levying of assets), and Kronofogden’s general enforcement procedures.

References to the concept appear in enforcement guidelines and legal literature addressing asset tracing and debt collection in Sweden.