Mandatory negotiation before suing in Spain (2025 reform)

General information only, not legal advice.

The rule

Since April 2025, civil claims are in general only admissible if the parties first tried an appropriate dispute resolution method such as mediation, conciliation or a binding offer.

Exceptions

Enforcement claims and certain other proceedings are exempt.

Payment orders

The statute does not expressly exempt the payment order procedure and courts differ, so we recommend documenting a prior negotiation attempt.