Enforcing a Court Judgment in Kazakhstan: What a Private Bailiff Does and How to Speed Up Recovery

Winning in court is only half the job. Money reaches your account only after the judgment is enforced. In Kazakhstan, most money judgments are enforced by private bailiffs.

Writ of execution

After the judgment takes legal effect, the court issues a writ of execution. It is submitted to a private bailiff, usually at the location of the debtor or its assets. The writ can be submitted for enforcement within three years.

What the bailiff can do

• freeze the debtor’s bank accounts and debit money from them;
• request information on the debtor’s assets from state bodies and banks;
• seize and sell real estate, vehicles and shares in companies;
• levy execution on the debtor’s salary and other income;
• temporarily ban the debtor from leaving Kazakhstan until the debt is paid.

How to speed up recovery

• Obtain an account freeze already in court as an interim measure, so the money is blocked by the time enforcement starts.
• Give the bailiff all known information about the debtor’s accounts, assets and counterparties straight away.
• Monitor the enforcement proceedings and challenge any inaction by the bailiff.

If the debtor evades payment

Wilful evasion of a court judgment may lead to administrative and criminal liability. This risk alone often motivates the debtor to settle.

My role

I oversee enforcement: I choose the bailiff, provide information about the assets, monitor deadlines and work with the bailiff until the judgment is fully executed.