Tribunale / Giudice di pace letter explained in English
Court. A court. Letters from a court are always important — never ignore them.
Letters you may get
- Decreto ingiuntivo — a court order to pay. You usually have 40 days to oppose it
- Atto di citazione — someone is taking you to court
- Convalida di sfratto — the court hearing for an eviction
- Sentenza — a judgment
What to do
- Court deadlines are strict and short. Get advice from a lawyer quickly.
- If your income is low, you may get a free lawyer (patrocinio a spese dello Stato).
- Find the deadline. Look for “termine”, “entro il”, “scadenza”.
- 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 (“ricorso”, “opposizione”, “istanza di autotutela”, “reclamo”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Decreto ingiuntivo
- A court order to pay a debt.
- Sfratto
- Eviction. Only a court can order it.
Questions
What is the Tribunale / Giudice di pace?
Court. A court. Letters from a court are always important — never ignore them.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Tribunale / Giudice di pace?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termine”, “entro il”, “scadenza” — they mark the deadline. In Italy, deadlines usually run from the day the letter counts as delivered (notifica). For registered mail, that is the day you sign for it — or, if you don’t collect it, a set time after the post office leaves a notice. Our estimate adds 3 days to the date on the letter, so check the real date. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“ricorso”, “opposizione”, “istanza di autotutela”, “reclamo”).
Can I read a Tribunale / Giudice di pace 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 Italian. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Italy
Agenzia delle Entrate · Agenzia delle entrate-Riscossione · Concessionario della riscossione · INPS · INAIL · Comune · Polizia Locale / Municipale · Questura (Ufficio Immigrazione)