Vorderingsbrief

Vorderingsbrief is a term used in German-language legal practice to denote a formal demand letter issued by a creditor to a debtor asserting an existing monetary claim and requesting payment by a stated deadline. The document serves to place the debtor on notice and to create a formal record of the claim before further steps, such as court action, are taken. The form and content of a vorderingsbrief typically include the parties’ identities, a reference to the underlying contract or legal basis of the claim, the amount due (including principal, interest, and costs if applicable), the due date or a deadline for payment, and clear payment instructions or bank details. Often it also warns of subsequent enforcement measures if payment is not received.

Etymology: The term combines Vorderung (claim, demand) and Brief (letter). It is more commonly encountered in historical or archival legal language and may appear regionally in Austrian or Swiss practice, where other terms such as Zahlungsaufforderung or Mahnung are standard today.

Legal role: A vorderingsbrief is not a court order; it is a private demand intended to expedite payment and to document the creditor’s assertion of the claim. In many systems, a sufficiently precise demand can trigger default if the debtor fails to respond, potentially enabling further steps like a court action or a simplified enforcement procedure (e.g., a Mahnbescheid) depending on jurisdiction and the governing contract.

Contemporary relevance: In current practice the term is rarely used and is largely superseded by standard terms such as Mahnung or Zahlungsaufforderung.