Israel

Enforcing Contracts in

Israel

Listed below is a detailed summary of the efficiency of contract enforcement. It follows the evolution of a sale of goods dispute, tracking the time, cost and number of procedures involved from the moment the plaintiff files the lawsuit until actual payment.

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Court Name (English): Tel-Aviv-Jaffa Magistrates Court
  • City: Tel Aviv

About This Topic

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Indicator
Time (days) 890
Filing and service 15
Trial and judgment 515
Enforcement of judgment 360
Cost (% of claim) 25.3
Attorney cost (% of claim) 15.7
Court cost (% of claim) 6.4
Enforcement Cost (% of claim) 3.2
Procedures (number) 35
Filing and service
1      Plaintiff’s hiring of lawyer: Plaintiff hires a lawyer to represent him before the court.
*      Plaintiff’s filing of summons and complaint: Plaintiff files his summons and complaint with the court, orally or in writing.
*      Plaintiff’s payment of court fees: Plaintiff pays court duties, stamp duties, or any other type of court fee.
2      Registration of court case: The court administration registers the lawsuit or court case. This includes assigning a reference number to the lawsuit or court case.
*      Assignment of court case to a judge: The court case is assigned to a specific judge through a random procedure, automated system, ruling of an administrative judge, court officer, etc.
*      Arrangements for physical delivery of summons and complaint: Plaintiff takes whatever steps are necessary to arrange for physical service of process on Defendant, such as instructing a court officer or a (private) bailiff.
*      Mailing of summons and complaint: Court or process server, including (private) bailiff, mails summons and complaint to Defendant.
*      Application for pre-judgment attachment: Plaintiff submits an application in writing for the attachment of Defendant's property prior to judgment. (see assumption 5)
*      Decision on pre-judgment attachment: The judge decides whether to grant Plaintiff’s request for pre-judgment attachment of Defendant’s property and notifies Plaintiff and Defendant of the decision. This step may include requesting that Plaintiff submit guarantees or bonds to secure Defendant
3      Guarantees securing attached property: Plaintiff typically submits guarantees or bonds to secure Defendant against possible damages to attached property. (see assumption 5)
4      Pre-judgment attachment.: Defendant's property is attached prior to judgment. Attachment is either physical or achieved by registering, marking, debiting or separating assets. (see assumption 5)
5      Report on pre-judgment attachment: Court enforcement officer or (private) bailiff issues and delivers a report on the attachment of Defendant’s property to the judge. (see assumption 5)
6      Hearing on pre-judgment attachment: A hearing takes place to resolve the question of whether Defendant’s assets can be attached prior to judgment. This process may include the submission of separate summons and petitions. (see assumption 5)
Trial and judgment
7      Defendant’s filing of defense or answer to Plaintiff’s claim: Defendant files a written pleading which includes his defense or answer on the merits of the case. Defendant's written answer may or may not include witness statements, expert statements, the documents Defendant relies on as evidence and the legal authori
8      Plaintiff’s written response to Defendant's defense or answer: Plaintiff responds to Defendant’s defense or answer with a written pleading. Plaintiff's answer may or may not include a witness statements or expert (witness) statements.
9      Filing of pleadings: Plaintiff and Defendant file written pleadings and submissions with the court and transmit copies of the written pleadings or submissions to one another. The pleadings may or may not include witness statements or expert (witness) statements.
10      Adjournments: Court procedure is delayed because one or both parties request and obtain an adjournment to submit written pleadings.
11      Pre-trial conference on procedure: The judge meets with the parties to discuss procedural issues (for example which applications and motions parties intend to file, which documents parties intend to rely on, what will be presented as evidence the oral hearing or trial, etc.)
*      Request for interlocutory order: Defendant raises preliminary issues, such as jurisdiction, statute of limitation, etc.
*      Court’s issuance of interlocutory order: Court decides the preliminary issues the Defendant raised by issuing an interlocutory order.
12      Plaintiff’s appeal of court's interlocutory order: Plaintiff appeals the court's interlocutory order, which suspends the court proceedings.
*      Discovery requests: Plaintiff and Defendant make requests for the disclosure of documents, attempting to force the other party to reveal potentially detrimental documents.
13      Discovery disputes: Following a request for discovery of documentary evidence, the other party disputes the request and calls upon the judge to decide the issue.
*      Setting of date(s) for oral hearing or trial: The judge sets the date(s) for the oral hearing or trial.
14      Pre-trial conference aimed at preparing for trial: The judge meets with parties to make practical arrangements for the trial (for example, the number of witnesses parties intend to call on during trial, how much time each party is given to present oral arguments etc.).
15      Adjournments: Court proceedings are delayed because one or both parties request and obtain an adjournment to prepare for the oral hearing or trial.
16      Trial (prevalent in common law): The parties argue the merits of the case at (an) oral session(s) before the court. Witnesses and expert witnesses are questioned and cross-examined during trial.
17      Adjournments: Court proceedings are delayed because one or both parties request and obtain an adjournment during the oral hearing or trial, resulting in an additional or later trial or hearing date.
18      Order for submission of final arguments: The judge sets the deadline for the submission of final factual and legal arguments.
*      Final arguments: The parties present their final factual and legal arguments to the court either by oral presentation or by a written submission.
19      Writing of judgment: The judge produces a written copy of the judgment.
20      Registration of judgment: The court office registers the judgment after receiving a written copy of the judgment.
21      Court notification of availability of the written judgment: The court notifies the parties that the written judgment is available at the courthouse.
22      Plaintiff's receipt of a copy of written judgment: Plaintiff receives a copy of the written judgment.
23      Appeal period: By law, Defendant has the opportunity to appeal the judgment during a period specified in the law. Defendant decides not to appeal. Judgment becomes final the day the appeal period ends.
24      Reimbursement by Defendant of Plaintiff's court fees: The judgment obliges Defendant to reimburse Plaintiff for the court fees Plaintiff has advanced, because Defendant has lost the case.
Enforcement of judgment
*      Plaintiff’s hiring of lawyer: Plaintiff hires a lawyer to enforce the judgment or continues to be represented by a lawyer during the enforcement of judgment phase.
*      Plaintiff’s request for enforcement order: Plaintiff applies to the court to obtain the enforcement order ('seal' on judgment).
25      Plaintiff’s advancement of enforcement fees: Plaintiff pays the fees related to the enforcement of the judgment.
*      Delivery of enforcement order: The court's enforcement order is delivered to a court enforcement officer or a (private) bailiff.
26      Request to Defendant to comply voluntarily with judgment: Plaintiff, a court enforcement officer or a (private) bailiff requests Defendant to voluntarily comply with the judgment, giving Defendant a last chance to comply voluntarily with the judgment.
27      Identification of Defendant's assets for attachment by court official or Defendant: Judge, a court enforcement officer, a (private) bailiff or the Defendant himself identifies Defendant's movable assets for attachment.
28      Attachment: Defendant’s movable goods are attached (physically or by registering, marking or separating assets).
29      Report on execution of attachment: A court enforcement officer or private process server delivers a report on the attachment of Defendant's movable goods to the judge.
30      Valuation or appraisal of attached movable goods: The court or court appointed valuation expert evaluates the attached goods.
31      Enforcement disputes before court: The enforcement of the judgment is delayed because Defendant opposes aspects of the enforcement process before the judge.
32      Call for public auction: The judge calls a public auction by, for example, advertising or publication in the newspapers.
33      Sale through public auction: The Defendant’s movable property is sold at public auction.
34      Judge's decision on bids: The judge determines the adequacy of the bids presented at public auction.
35      Reimbursement of Plaintiff’s enforcement fees: Defendant reimburses Plaintiff's enforcement fees which Plaintiff had advanced previously.
36      Payment: Court orders that the proceeds of the public auction or the direct sale be delivered to Plaintiff.

Nature of Procedures 36
Electronic filing of court cases -1
Total Number of Procedures 35
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