The content of this page is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Your situation may require an individual assessment by a lawyer.
A payment order is a ruling a Polish court issues in closed session — without a hearing and without hearing the defendant — based solely on the claimant's statement of claim and documents. It is issued in writ-of-payment proceedings, order-for-payment proceedings or electronic writ proceedings (the e-court in Lublin). Together with the order you receive a copy of the claim and instructions on how to file an objection or charges. Filing an objection in time makes the order lose force and moves the case to ordinary examination.
14 daysfrom the day the letter is delivered
An objection (writ proceedings and the e-court) or charges (order-for-payment proceedings) must be filed within two weeks of delivery of the order, if delivery takes place in Poland (Art. 480² § 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure). For delivery abroad within the EU the deadline is one month, and outside the EU — three months.
Legal basis: art. 480² § 2 KPC
The deadline runs from the day the letter is delivered (received) — the delivery day itself does not count. Verify the delivery date with a lawyer: whether you make the deadline depends on it.
An order against which no objection or charges were filed in time becomes final and has the effect of a judgment. The creditor can obtain an enforcement clause and refer the case to a bailiff — your salary or bank account may be seized, and enforcement costs are added to the debt. Restoring the deadline is possible only in exceptional cases.
Scan it for free — AI will explain your document in plain language and compute the deadline from the delivery date.
An objection in writ-of-payment proceedings and in the e-court is free of court fees. A fee (three quarters of the claim fee) is, however, payable for charges against a payment order issued in order-for-payment proceedings.
It may — a letter left twice with a collection notice and never collected can be deemed delivered (substitute delivery), and the deadline starts running anyway. If you live at a different address than the one in the claim, consult a lawyer as soon as possible — this can be a ground for defence.
A statement whether you contest the order in whole or in part, plus your pleas and motions. In writ proceedings the objection needs no fee and no evidence attached, but formal defects can lead to its rejection — it is worth using a lawyer.
The Prawnet directory lists verified legal professionals across Poland — you choose who to talk to.