Competence for conducting enforcement

Law on Enforcement and Security Interest

According to the provisions of the Law on Enforcement and Security Interest competence for conducting enforcement is divided between court and public enforcement officer.

The court has exclusive jurisdiction for the enforcement of performance, non-performance or sufferance that could only be undertaken by the enforcement debtor (Art. 363-364 and 366 of the Law on Enforcement and Security Interest), reinstatement of an employee, and enforcement of enforceable documents related to family relationships, except for the collection of statutory maintenance. The court also has exclusive jurisdiction for enforcement when prescribed by a separate law.

Public enforcement officers have exclusive jurisdiction:

  • for the enforcement of other enforceable documents, writs of enforcement based on a credible document, writs on adopting the motion for counter-enforcement and writs on enforcement of writs on enforcement of the court-imposed penalties;
  • for the enforcement of writs prescribed by law to be executed ex officio. The provisions of the law regulating the collection of court fees apply mutatis mutandis to the procedure of enforcement;
  • for enforcement purposes when a separate law prescribes it.

Provisions up to the Part Three of the Law on Enforcement and Security Interest, that only regulate the powers of public enforcement officers, and not of courts, only apply to powers of a court if a court has exclusive jurisdiction to conduct enforcement (stay of the proceedings, on multiple enforcement instruments and subjects of enforcement, amending and adding enforcement instruments and subjects, objection of a third party, postponing enforcement, discontinuance of the enforcement proceedings, etc.)

When deciding on the motion for enforcement, the court and the public enforcement officer are bound by the enforceable and credible document and the court is not authorized to examine the legality and correctness of the enforceable document.

Subject-Matter Jurisdiction of Courts for Deciding on Enforcement or Security Interest Motion

The ruling on enforcement or security interest motion is rendered by basic or commercial court in the first instance.

The decision on the appeal against the ruling of the basic or commercial court is rendered by a superior court or the Commercial Appellate Court, depending on which court passed the contested ruling.

General Territorial Jurisdiction for Deciding on Enforcement or Security Interest Motion

The court in whose territory the enforcement debtor has permanent or temporary residence, i.e. registered headquarters, has general territorial jurisdiction for deciding on enforcement or security interest motions.

Territorial Jurisdiction if Enforcement or Security Interest Motion Specifies Multiple Instruments or Subjects of Enforcement or Security Interest

If the motion for enforcement or security interest on a monetary claim specifies multiple instruments or subjects of enforcement or security interest, the court that has the jurisdiction to decide on the instrument of enforcement or security interest that is indicated first, has the territorial jurisdiction to decide on the enforcement motion, i.e. security interest motion.

If an immovable property is specified among other instruments or subjects, the court in whose territory the immovable property is located has the exclusive territorial jurisdiction to decide on the enforcement, i.e. security motion.

Territorial Jurisdiction of the Court for Ruling during the Implementation of Enforcement

In the course of the enforcement carried out by the public enforcement officer, the court that rendered the writ of execution based on the enforceable or credible document, has the territorial jurisdiction to make rulings on imposing fines, rulings on replacing fines with imprisonment, rulings on a motion for disqualification of a public enforcement officers, and rulings on objections, except on the third party objection.

If the enforcement is effected by court, the exclusive territorial jurisdiction for ruling in the course of the enforcement implementation is vested in the court effecting the enforcement.

Territorial Jurisdiction of the Public Enforcement Officer

Public enforcement officers enforce the writ of executions based on enforceable title or credible document and the rulings on preliminary or interim measure rendered by a court in whose territory he was appointed (territorial jurisdiction of the public enforcement officer). He may undertake actions outside the territory of the court for which he was appointed, alone or through a public enforcement officer from another territory.

Prohibition of the Party’s Motion for Delegation of the Territorial Jurisdiction of the Court

Party’s motion for delegation of territorial jurisdiction of the court is not permitted.

Composition of the Court

In enforcement proceedings and security interest proceedings, single judge issues writs and adopt conclusions in the first instance.

A panel of three judges renders decisions on an objection or appeal.

A judicial assistant may undertake certain court actions in the course of enforcement or security interest proceedings.

Recusal of a Judge

When the enforcement is effected by a public enforcement officer, a motion for recusal of the judge may be filed at the latest by the expiry of the term for ruling on the appeal against the writ issued on the motion for enforcement based on enforceable document, or of the term for objection or appeal in the process of deciding on the legality and correctness of the writ of execution based on a credible document.

When the enforcement is effected by a court, as well as in the security interest proceedings, the motion for disqualification of the judge may be filed before the completion of the enforcement proceedings, i.e. security interest proceedings.

Decision on the motion for recusal of the judge is rendered within five days from the receipt of the motion. An objection may be filed against the ruling on dismissal or rejection of the motion for disqualification of the judge. The motion for recusal of the judge does not stay the enforcement or security interest proceedings.

The motion for recusal of the court enforcement officer is not permitted.

Last update: 1. 10. 2025.

Read more:
Legal remedies in enforcement proceedings »
Enforceable and credible document as ground for rendering of decision on execution »
Reorganisation plan as a enforceable document »

Your comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with an asterisk .

Law on Central Records of Beneficial Owners

Central records of beneficial owners

The Law on Central Records of Beneficial Owners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, nos. 19/2025, 51/2025 and 60/2025 – corr.) governs the establishment, content, grounds for registration, and manner of maintaining the Central Records of Beneficial Owners of legal entities, other entities registered in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with the law, trusts and…
More info »
Law on Healthcare

Conditions for the establishment and termination of private healthcare institution

Pursuant to the provisions of the Law on Healthcare (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 25/2019, 92/2023 – authentic interpretation, and 29/2025 – Constitutional Court decision), healthcare providers in the Republic of Serbia are: Healthcare institutions in public and private ownership; Higher education institutions in healthcare and other legal entities authorised by a special law to…
More info »
Law on Primary Education and Upbringing

Registration of a private primary school

Primary education is an activity of direct social interest and is carried out as a public service. Primary education and upbringing are carried out in accordance with the Constitution, the Law on the Foundations of the System of Education and Upbringing (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 88/2017, 27/2018 – other law, 10/2019, 27/2018 –…
More info »
Law on Factoring

Requirements for Conducting Factoring

Law on Factoring (“Official Herald of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 62/2013 and 30/2018) regulates the concept and subject of factoring, factoring participants, conditions and manner of factoring, types of factoring, rights and obligations of factoring participants, factoring contract, reverse factoring, and supervision of factoring. According to provisions of the Law on Factoring (“Official Herald…
More info »
Law on Foreigners

Permanent residence of the foreigner in Serbia

Permanent residence is the approval of long-term residence of a foreign national in the Republic of Serbia. Conditions for approval of permanent residence, decision-making authority and the procedure for issuing approval, as well as the termination of approval for permanent residence of a foreign citizen in the Republic of Serbia are regulated by the provisions…
More info »
Companies Act

Legal aspects of the contract of the company members

The contract of the company’s members is a named corporate law contract. Unlike the founding act, a mandatory document of every company, the members’ agreement is optional. However, the absence of a legal obligation to conclude a contract for the members of a company, the complexity of relations in multi-member companies, and the great practicality…
More info »
Rulebook on registration in the Register of Agricultural Holdings

Requirements for enrollment in the register of agricultural holdings and the passive status of the Agricultural Holding

To implement and monitor agricultural policy, record agricultural holdings and family holdings, and conduct analytics and statistics for the needs of the Ministry responsible for agriculture affairs, the Directorate for Agricultural Payments maintains the Register of Agricultural Holdings. Rulebook on registration in the Register of Agricultural Holdings, data changes and renewal of registration, electronic processing,…
More info »
Law on Trade

Dropshipping as a form of electronic trade

The Law on Trade (“Official Gazette of RS,” No. 52/2019) governs dropshipping as a method of conducting electronic commerce in Serbia. Following the provisions of Article 17 of the Law on Trade (“Official Gazette of RS”, No. 52/2019), dropshipping is defined as a form of electronic commerce in which a retailer sells goods through an…
More info »