Commissaire de justice (ex huissier) letter explained in English
Bailiff. A legal officer who delivers court papers and collects debts, sometimes by force. They replaced the huissiers in 2022.
Letters you may get
- Commandement de payer — a formal order to pay
- Signification — official delivery of a court decision or other legal paper
- Procès-verbal de saisie — a record of money or things seized
What to do
- Never ignore their letters. Check what the debt is for, and call them to agree a payment plan.
- Your bank must always leave you a basic amount (solde bancaire insaisissable), even after a seizure.
- Find the deadline. Look for “délai”, “avant le”, “au plus tard”.
- 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 (“recours gracieux”, “recours administratif préalable obligatoire”, “recours amiable”, “réclamation”, “contestation”, “recours”). See the template.
Words you may see
- commissaire de justice
- Bailiff. A legal officer who delivers court papers and can seize money or goods. Until 2022 called huissier.
- saisie
- Seizure of money or goods to pay a debt.
- commandement de payer
- Formal order to pay, delivered by a bailiff. It often comes just before a seizure or a court case.
Questions
What is the Commissaire de justice (ex huissier)?
Bailiff. A legal officer who delivers court papers and collects debts, sometimes by force. They replaced the huissiers in 2022.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Commissaire de justice (ex huissier)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “délai”, “avant le”, “au plus tard” — they mark the deadline. In France, a deadline usually starts on the day you receive the letter — for a registered letter, often the day the post first tried to deliver it. The 3 days are only an estimate, so check the envelope or the delivery notice. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“recours gracieux”, “recours administratif préalable obligatoire”, “recours amiable”, “réclamation”, “contestation”, “recours”).
Can I read a Commissaire de justice (ex huissier) 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 French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in France
Finances publiques (DGFiP) · Trésor public / Service de gestion comptable · Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) · France Travail (ex Pôle emploi) · Préfecture / ANEF · OFII · Assurance Maladie (CPAM) · Mutuelle / complémentaire santé