maksekäsu

Maksekäsu is a legal remedy used in Estonia to obtain a swift court order for payment of uncontested monetary claims. It is a simplified civil procedure designed to expedite recovery of debts when the creditor’s claim is document-supported and the facts are not in dispute.

The procedure is initiated by a written application to the court, accompanied by documentary evidence of the claim. The court examines the materials and may issue a payment order without a full hearing if formal and substantive requirements are met. The debtor is notified and given a limited statutory period in which to contest the order. If the debtor does not timely object, the payment order becomes enforceable and the creditor can proceed with standard enforcement measures. If the debtor files an objection, the matter is transferred to ordinary civil proceedings for a contested resolution.

Maksekäsu is commonly used for commercial and consumer debts, invoices, and other monetary obligations where documentation (contracts, invoices, account statements) establishes the claim. Its advantages include speed, lower cost, and reduced court workload compared with full trials. Limitations include inapplicability to complex disputes, non-monetary claims, and cases where facts are genuinely disputed. The mechanism corresponds to similar payment-order procedures in other legal systems, and in cross-border contexts may interact with European payment-order mechanisms. Legal advice is often recommended to ensure proper use and to protect defenses within the short contestation period.