Byret / Fogedretten letter explained in English
Court. A court. The city court (byret) handles civil and criminal cases; the bailiff’s court (fogedretten) handles enforcement of debts and evictions.
Letters you may get
- Betalingspåkrav — someone says you owe money; object within 14 days or it can be enforced
- Indkaldelse til fogedretten — a meeting about seizure (udlæg) for a debt
- Stævning — someone is taking you to court
What to do
- Always go to a meeting in the fogedretten — if you don’t, the police can bring you there.
- If you disagree with a betalingspåkrav, object (gør indsigelse) to the court within 14 days.
- Find the deadline. Look for “senest”, “inden”, “frist”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“klage”, “indsigelse”, “anke”). See the template.
Words you may see
- betalingspåkrav
- A payment order from the court. You have 14 days to object.
- fogedretten
- The bailiff’s court. It handles seizure for debts and evictions.
- udlæg
- Seizure of belongings or money for a debt.
Questions
What is the Byret / Fogedretten?
Court. A court. The city court (byret) handles civil and criminal cases; the bailiff’s court (fogedretten) handles enforcement of debts and evictions.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Byret / Fogedretten?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “senest”, “inden”, “frist” — they mark the deadline. In Denmark, a letter in Digital Post usually counts as received when it arrives in your mailbox. Paper letters take a few days. Briefly adds about 2 days — check the date in Digital Post or on the envelope. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“klage”, “indsigelse”, “anke”).
Can I read a Byret / Fogedretten letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Danish. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Denmark
Skattestyrelsen (Skat) · Gældsstyrelsen · Udbetaling Danmark · Kommunen (Borgerservice) · Jobcenter · A-kasse · SIRI / Udlændingestyrelsen · Politiet