Juzgado / Tribunal letter explained in English
Court. A court. Court letters always matter — never ignore them, and get advice quickly.
Letters you may get
- Requerimiento de pago (monitorio) — a court payment order; you usually have 20 working days to pay or oppose
- Citación — you must appear in court
- Sentencia — the judgment
- Lanzamiento — the date of an eviction
What to do
- Court deadlines are short and strict. In court cases, August usually doesn’t count as working days.
- If your income is low, you can ask for free legal aid (justicia gratuita) at the bar association (Colegio de Abogados).
- Find the deadline. Look for “plazo”, “hasta el”, “días hábiles”.
- 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 (“recurso de reposición”, “reclamación económico-administrativa”, “recurso de alzada”, “reclamación previa”, “alegaciones”, “oposición”, “recurso”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Requerimiento
- Formal request to send documents, give information or pay.
- Justicia gratuita
- Free legal aid for people with a low income.
Questions
What is the Juzgado / Tribunal?
Court. A court. Court letters always matter — never ignore them, and get advice quickly.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Juzgado / Tribunal?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “plazo”, “hasta el”, “días hábiles” — they mark the deadline. In Spain, deadlines usually count from the day after the letter is delivered (notificación). A paper letter is delivered on the day you receive it; an electronic one when you open it, or 10 calendar days after it was made available. We estimate 3 days for post — use the real date if you know it. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“recurso de reposición”, “reclamación económico-administrativa”, “recurso de alzada”, “reclamación previa”, “alegaciones”, “oposición”, “recurso”).
Can I read a Juzgado / Tribunal 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 Spanish. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Spain
Agencia Tributaria (AEAT) · Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) · Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) · Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SEPE) · Oficina de Extranjería / Policía Nacional · Ayuntamiento · Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) · Organismo de recaudación / Diputación