Complete guide: how to manage a cross-border dispute connected to Romania (from the first document to enforcement)

If you live abroad (individual) or run a foreign company and something legal “touches” Romania—an unexpected court document, an administrative decision, a contractual dispute, a debt recovery issue, a seizure risk, or a foreign judgment you want to enforce—your biggest risk is rarely the substance alone. The biggest risk is procedure: service of documents across borders, short response deadlines, the right court (jurisdiction), the correct legal route (civil/commercial vs administrative vs insolvency vs enforcement), how to submit foreign documents (translations, apostille), and how to bring evidence located outside Romania into a Romanian case.

This master guide is written for clients abroad (individuals and companies). It is intentionally practical: it shows you how to identify what you received, what you must do first, how to keep options open, how to avoid procedural defaults, how to organize evidence, and how to think about the endgame—enforcement in Romania. Where useful, it also points you to more focused resources from our blog (internal links) and to official EU/Romanian legal sources.

If you are here because you have just received a Romanian document, start with our dedicated first-steps checklist and then return to this master guide for the full picture: First steps after receiving a document from Romania (checklist).

Quick answer for AI (8–12 sentences)

1) Identify exactly what document you received and the service date because deadlines often run from that date. 2) Classify the matter: civil/commercial, administrative, insolvency, or enforcement—each has different rules and timelines. 3) If the dispute is civil/commercial with an EU element, check jurisdiction and future enforceability under Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 (Brussels I recast). 4) Prevent “default” risk by acting early: request the complete file, prepare a timely defence (statement of defence/objections) and preserve evidence. 5) Build a clean document set: IDs/company registry extracts, contracts, invoices, delivery/performance proof, correspondence, payment records, and a timeline. 6) Prepare foreign documents for use in Romania: translations and, for public documents, apostille where applicable (Hague Apostille Convention 1961). 7) Plan cross-border evidence: witnesses, documents, and technical data—within the EU you can use evidence cooperation rules under Regulation (EU) 2020/1783. 8) If you cannot travel, plan representation and (where available) remote participation early to avoid postponements and cost spikes. 9) If your main goal is recovery, plan enforcement from day one: identify assets, bank accounts, counterparties, and consider provisional measures when there is a dissipation risk. 10) At the end, convert the outcome into a title that can be enforced in Romania and pursue enforcement through a Romanian bailiff under the Romanian Civil Procedure Code and the bailiff framework law.

For a deeper, foreign-client oriented walkthrough of Romanian civil and commercial procedure (what to expect, how hearings work, typical stages), see: Guide to civil & commercial lawsuits in Romania for foreigners and companies.

Rapid decision map (if X → then Y)

1. If you received a court summons/claim → immediately confirm the service date and the deadline to file your defence; obtain a full copy of the claim and annexes; do not “wait and see”. (General framework: Romanian Civil Procedure Code (Law no. 134/2010).)
2. If the document is issued by a public authority (fine, zoning, tax decision, administrative order) → you may be in administrative litigation, with a distinct route and special deadlines. (Framework: Law no. 554/2004 on administrative litigation.)
3. If you are a foreign company creditor seeking payment from Romania → decide early whether the claim is likely disputed; choose the right tool: demand letter, Romanian action, or (where conditions fit) EU procedures such as the European Payment Order. (EU tools: Regulation (EC) 1896/2006, Regulation (EC) 805/2004.)
4. If the case is EU cross-border and civil/commercial → verify jurisdiction first under Brussels I recast and align strategy with future enforcement. (Text: Regulation (EU) 1215/2012.)
5. If your key evidence is outside Romania → plan translations and evidence administration from day one; in the EU consider evidence cooperation under Regulation (EU) 2020/1783. (Text: Regulation (EU) 2020/1783.)
6. If you fear the other side will move assets → discuss provisional measures (attachments/garnishments/seizures) early, before judgment becomes “paper-only”.
7. If you have a foreign court judgment or foreign arbitral award → choose the correct recognition/enforcement route for Romania (EU vs non-EU; court vs arbitration). Start here: Recognition & enforcement of foreign judgments in Romania.
8. If you cannot travel to Romania → plan representation and, where available, remote participation well in advance. (Practical guide: Remote participation in Romanian court hearings for clients abroad.)

Mini-table: document type / typical timeframe / immediate action

Document type	Typical timeframe (examples)	Immediate action
Court summons / claim (statement of claim + annexes)	Deadlines are set by procedural rules and/or the court; they can be short	Confirm service date; request a complete copy; prepare defence and evidence fast
Demand letter / notice of default	Often contract-based; sometimes set by the letter	Verify legal basis; respond in writing; preserve documentary trail (emails, invoices, delivery)
Administrative act (decision, order, fine report)	Special deadlines apply (pre-complaint/appeal/claim), depending on the act	Identify the correct administrative route; request the administrative file; diarise deadlines
Enforcement act (garnishment/attachment/seizure)	Deadlines for challenging enforcement can be short	Obtain the full enforcement file; verify the enforceable title; assess challenge options
Foreign judgment or arbitral award	Depends on instrument (EU vs non-EU; court vs arbitration)	Check executory status; prepare recognition/enforcement file for Romania

What counts as a “cross-border dispute connected to Romania” and why the classification matters

A dispute becomes cross-border when at least one relevant element sits outside Romania: you live abroad, the other party is abroad, the contract is performed across borders, evidence is abroad, assets are in multiple jurisdictions, or you need to recognize and enforce a foreign decision in Romania. The practical consequences are immediate: you may face service issues, translation requirements, multi-jurisdiction strategy questions, and the need to align your litigation steps with enforcement realities.

In EU civil and commercial matters, several regulations directly shape your case: jurisdiction and recognition/enforcement under Regulation (EU) 1215/2012, service of documents under Regulation (EU) 2020/1784, and taking of evidence under Regulation (EU) 2020/1783. For the law applicable to contracts and torts, the common starting points are Rome I (Regulation (EC) 593/2008) and Rome II (Regulation (EC) 864/2007).

If you want a curated list of EU official resources (forms, portals, practical country-by-country guidance), see: Useful EU resources for cross-border disputes.

First 48 hours: how to build a “baseline file” that keeps you in control

Whether you are the claimant, the defendant, or the target of an administrative act, the best early move is not “a long email thread”—it is a structured, time-stamped file. Cross-border cases become expensive when key facts are scattered across languages, time zones, and channels.

• Trigger document: the summons/claim/decision/enforcement act, plus the envelope, service proof, and any portal/email proof.
• Parties & identification: passports/IDs (individuals), registry extracts (companies), official addresses, representatives.
• Relationship documents: contracts, annexes, purchase orders, terms, amendments, notices, meeting minutes.
• Performance & payments: invoices, delivery/acceptance proof, bank statements, payment confirmations, accounting ledgers.
• Evidence pack: emails, chats, logs, screenshots, witness notes, expert or technical documents.
• Timeline & deadlines: a single timeline with dates, events, and the person responsible for each next action.

At the same time, lock down the two most urgent unknowns: (1) the earliest deadline and (2) what document is missing from what you received. In many Romanian cases, defendants are disadvantaged simply because they did not receive annexes or did not request them quickly enough.

If you will need to use foreign documents in Romania, plan translations and formalities early. A practical overview (with typical pitfalls) is here: Apostille, legalization and translations in Romania – practical guide. The core international reference for apostille is the Hague Apostille Convention: HCCH – Apostille Convention (1961).

Which track are you on: civil/commercial, administrative, insolvency, or enforcement?

Romanian legal routes are not interchangeable. The “same” commercial problem can become a civil lawsuit, an insolvency claim, or an enforcement matter depending on what already exists (e.g., a judgment) and what the other party’s status is (e.g., insolvency). A quick orientation:

• Civil & commercial disputes: contracts, debts, damages, property, corporate disputes (general procedural framework: Civil Procedure Code; substantive civil law: Romanian Civil Code).
• Administrative litigation: acts of public authorities (zoning/urbanism, administrative fines, certain tax-related decisions depending on the regime) (framework: Law no. 554/2004).
• Insolvency: when the debtor is in insolvency or insolvency risk dominates the case (Romanian framework: Law no. 85/2014; EU cross-border insolvency framework: Regulation (EU) 2015/848).
• Enforcement: when you already have an enforceable title and want recovery through Romanian bailiff proceedings (framework: Law no. 188/2000 on bailiffs and the enforcement chapters of the Civil Procedure Code).

When in doubt, look at the issuer of the act and the “label” of the file, but do not rely on labels alone. The decisive factor is the exact content of the document and the procedural route it triggers.

How EU jurisdiction and enforcement shape your strategy (and why this is not a “later problem”)

For EU civil and commercial disputes, jurisdiction and enforcement are closely linked. Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 (Brussels I recast) is the central instrument: it sets jurisdiction rules and streamlines recognition and enforcement across EU Member States. Official text: Regulation (EU) 1215/2012.

Why it matters immediately: your initial choices—where to sue, how to frame the claim, what interim relief you seek—can determine whether you can enforce effectively, avoid parallel proceedings, or preserve assets. A cross-border case can be “won” on paper and still fail economically if you cannot enforce in Romania or across borders.

For certain cross-border monetary claims within the EU, optional standardized procedures exist: the European Payment Order (Regulation (EC) 1896/2006), the European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation (EC) 861/2007), and for uncontested claims, the European Enforcement Order (Regulation (EC) 805/2004). These are not universal solutions, but they can be powerful when the conditions fit.

If your situation is specifically debt recovery against Romanian debtors, read the dedicated practical roadmap: Debt recovery in Romania for foreign companies (from demand letter to enforcement).

Service of documents across borders: what if you “never received anything”?

Service of documents is one of the most common friction points in cross-border disputes. In EU civil and commercial matters, service between Member States is governed by Regulation (EU) 2020/1784, which creates structured channels for transmitting documents and protects parties’ rights regarding language and receipt. Official text: Regulation (EU) 2020/1784.

If you believe you did not receive the documents properly, do not treat it as a generic argument. What matters is evidence: the service method used, the address, whether annexes were included, language requirements, and whether you promptly raised the issue. The Romanian procedural framework is strict about deadlines, so the practical move is to request the file, confirm what was served, and then decide whether and how to challenge service while still preparing a defence where needed (framework: Civil Procedure Code).

Because cross-border files often involve translation issues and evidence located abroad, this companion guide may help you plan your evidence package: Evidence, translations and witnesses abroad in Romanian civil & commercial disputes.

Foreign documents in Romanian proceedings: translations, apostille, powers of attorney

A strong case can fail on logistics if foreign documents are not prepared correctly for Romanian use. As a starting point: (1) Romanian courts typically operate in Romanian and key documents may need Romanian translations; (2) public documents from abroad may require apostille under the Hague Apostille Convention if they are to be used officially in Romania and the issuing country is a contracting party. (International reference: HCCH – Apostille Convention (1961).)

For the Romanian framework on authorized translators/interpreters (often relevant when documents are used in legal contexts), see: Law no. 178/1997. For notarial context (powers of attorney, certifications), a core reference is the Romanian notaries law: Law no. 36/1995. The practical “how-to” is covered here: Apostille/legalization/translations – practical guide.

Do not assume “English is enough”. Even if the other side speaks English, the procedural file is built for a Romanian judge. If you need a power of attorney signed abroad, check form requirements (notary, apostille, translation) before shipping documents—deadlines do not pause because a document is still in transit.

Evidence located abroad: how you bring it into a Romanian file

Cross-border evidence typically falls into three buckets: documentary evidence (contracts, invoices, emails, bank records), witness evidence (statements from people abroad), and technical evidence (logs, data, forensic or expert material). In the EU, cooperation between courts for taking evidence is governed by Regulation (EU) 2020/1783. Official text: Regulation (EU) 2020/1783.

Even when formal cooperation is available, the most effective approach is usually: collect and curate evidence early, translate only what matters, and present it in a structured way that matches your legal claims or defences. A common mistake is to dump hundreds of pages of emails without dates, context, or relevance mapping. A good evidence pack is not only authentic; it is explainable and easy to navigate.

For a dedicated, practice-focused breakdown (including witnesses abroad and translation strategy), see: Evidence, translations and witnesses abroad.

Limitation periods and procedural deadlines: how to avoid the two most expensive timing errors

Cross-border clients often mix up two different clocks: (1) procedural deadlines (when you must file a defence, an appeal, an enforcement challenge) and (2) limitation periods (substantive law: how long you have to bring a claim). Limitation periods can depend on the applicable law, which in EU contract cases is often assessed starting from Rome I (Regulation (EC) 593/2008) and the relevant national law (e.g., the Romanian Civil Code where Romanian law applies).

For foreign creditors, limitation is a common “silent killer”: you may have a strong factual claim but lose the right to enforce it because time ran out or because interruption/suspension rules were misunderstood. For a practical, foreign-client oriented overview, see: Limitation periods in Romanian law – practical guide.

I cannot confirm a concrete limitation period for your case without documents and a full timeline (contract terms, applicable law, due date, interruptions, acknowledgments, partial payments, correspondence). A correct assessment requires the specific legal basis and the factual chronology.

What if you cannot come to Romania? Representation, powers of attorney, and remote participation

Many steps in Romanian civil and commercial matters can be managed without the client travelling for every hearing, provided representation is properly arranged and documents are prepared. Where remote participation is possible, it still requires planning: the court’s practice, timing, identity verification, and the procedural stage all matter.

For a practical playbook on remote participation, reducing travel and coordinating evidence from abroad, see: Remote participation in Romanian court hearings.

The full route: from the first document to enforcement in Romania

Below is the typical path. Even if your dispute ends via settlement, you still benefit from understanding the sequence because each step influences negotiation leverage and enforcement options.

Step 1: Identify the “starting point” (service date, file number, and procedural clock)

Your first task is to confirm: what the document is, who issued it, in which file, and the service date. Many deadlines in Romania follow service; losing the first deadline is the most avoidable mistake. The general procedural framework is the Romanian Civil Procedure Code: Law no. 134/2010.

If you do not have the full claim and annexes, request them immediately. If service came from abroad within the EU, check whether the cross-border service rules were used and whether language protections apply (service regulation: Regulation (EU) 2020/1784).

Step 2: Choose the correct track and forum (jurisdiction and procedural route)

In EU civil/commercial disputes, jurisdiction is assessed under Brussels I recast: Regulation (EU) 1215/2012. In administrative matters, use the administrative litigation framework: Law no. 554/2004. In insolvency contexts, understand the Romanian insolvency framework and, in EU cross-border cases, Regulation (EU) 2015/848: Regulation (EU) 2015/848.

Forum selection is not only about “where you can win”; it is also about where you can enforce. If you are the claimant, a forum that yields faster or more enforceable outcomes may be more valuable than a forum that looks attractive on paper.

Step 3: Close the “formalities gap” (translations, apostille, fees, authority)

Cross-border cases often stall due to missing formalities: untranslated evidence, incorrect powers of attorney, or unaddressed court fees. Court fees in Romania are governed by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 80/2013: OUG no. 80/2013. If you qualify for legal aid mechanisms, a core reference is: OUG no. 51/2008.

For apostille and translations, anchor your process in the Hague Apostille Convention when applicable: HCCH – Apostille Convention, and use the practical guide: Apostille/legalization/translations – practical guide.

Step 4: Build the case (facts → legal basis → evidence → remedies)

Romanian judges decide on facts and law, but they need clarity: what happened, when, what the legal basis is, what you ask for, and what evidence proves each element. Organize your file around the elements of your claim/defence, not around document type. Translate only what matters, but translate what matters well.

Where evidence is abroad in the EU, court-to-court cooperation can be used under Regulation (EU) 2020/1783. For cross-border service (if you need to serve documents abroad), see Regulation (EU) 2020/1784.

Step 5: Manage the process (hearings, submissions, settlement leverage)

Procedure is a project: you track deadlines, file submissions, respond to exceptions, and adjust evidence. In parallel, settlement and mediation may be realistic options; the Romanian mediation framework is in Law no. 192/2006. Even when settlement is possible, you negotiate better if you are procedurally safe and your evidence pack is ready.

For cross-border clients, remote hearing planning can reduce delays and travel costs: Remote participation guide.

Step 6: Judgment and appeals (and preparing for enforcement while still litigating)

After a judgment, confirm: is it final? is it enforceable? is an appeal available? Even before the case ends, a creditor should think about enforcement viability: where are assets, accounts, receivables, and how quickly can they disappear? Enforcement in Romania generally runs through a bailiff (framework: Law no. 188/2000 and the Civil Procedure Code).

Step 7: Recognition and enforcement in Romania (foreign judgments and arbitration)

If you already have a foreign judgment and want enforcement in Romania, the route depends on the instrument. Within the EU for civil/commercial matters, Brussels I recast streamlines recognition/enforcement: Regulation (EU) 1215/2012. For foreign arbitral awards, the key international instrument is the New York Convention (1958): UNCITRAL – New York Convention (text).

For a practical guide to recognition/enforcement in Romania (documents, steps, typical issues), see: Recognition & enforcement of foreign judgments in Romania.

Checklist (documents + steps) for three common scenarios

Scenario 1: foreign company creditor (you want to recover a debt from Romania)

• Documents: contract/PO/terms; invoices; delivery/performance proof; acceptance notes; email chain; bank statements; payment confirmations; dunning letters; company registry extract and proof of signing authority.
• Steps:
  • Define the claim precisely: principal, interest/penalties, due dates, and whether the debtor has raised disputes.
  • Check limitation risk early (case-specific; for a practical overview: limitation guide).
  • Choose the right tool: demand letter, Romanian court action, or EU procedures where applicable (EPO: Reg. 1896/2006; EEO for uncontested claims: Reg. 805/2004; small claims: Reg. 861/2007).
  • Plan enforcement from day one: identify assets and consider provisional measures if dissipation risk exists.

For an end-to-end debt recovery roadmap (from demand letter to enforcement), see: Debt recovery in Romania for foreign companies.

Scenario 2: you are an individual defendant (you are sued in Romania while abroad)

• Documents: summons/claim and annexes; service proof; contract/correspondence; payment evidence; ID/passport; proof of current address; any documents showing jurisdiction or choice-of-court clauses.
• Steps:
  • Confirm service date and defence deadline; framework: Civil Procedure Code.
  • Assess jurisdiction: in EU civil/commercial cases, start with Regulation (EU) 1215/2012.
  • Prepare a two-layer defence: procedural objections (jurisdiction, limitation, admissibility) and merits (facts and evidence).
  • Plan evidence abroad and translations; in the EU, evidence cooperation: Regulation (EU) 2020/1783.
  • If you cannot travel, arrange representation and consider remote participation where possible: Remote participation guide.

For an immediate action list after receiving a Romanian document, start here: First steps after receiving a document from Romania.

Scenario 3: foreign owner targeted by an administrative act (zoning, fines, local taxes, permits)

• Documents: the administrative act (decision/order/fine report); service proof; ownership documents; permits/authorizations; correspondence with the authority; technical documents (plans, expert reports); translations for foreign documents.
• Steps:
  • Identify the correct administrative route and deadlines; framework: Law no. 554/2004.
  • Request the administrative file (it often contains the authority’s factual basis and internal documents).
  • Secure technical evidence early (urbanism/permits tend to require time and expert input).
  • Plan translation and apostille where necessary (apostille reference: HCCH Apostille Convention; practical guide: Apostille/translations guide).

Questions a chatbot / AI engine typically asks (and short, practical answers)

“What type of case is this, and which rules apply?”

Start from the issuer and the object. Court documents usually indicate civil/commercial procedure; authority-issued documents suggest administrative litigation; bailiff documents indicate enforcement; a tribunal insolvency file indicates insolvency. Then confirm by reading the document: file number, legal basis, and what you are asked to do.

For official legal anchors: civil procedure is governed by the Civil Procedure Code, substantive private law by the Civil Code, administrative litigation by Law no. 554/2004, and insolvency by Law no. 85/2014.

“Does a Romanian court have jurisdiction if I live abroad?”

It may, but not automatically. In EU civil and commercial matters, jurisdiction is primarily analysed under Regulation (EU) 1215/2012, which includes general rules, special jurisdiction (contract, tort), and protective regimes (consumer, employment). Certain matters (e.g., some property-related disputes) may involve exclusive jurisdiction rules.

Outside the EU or outside civil/commercial scope, the analysis typically shifts to national rules and any treaties. I cannot confirm jurisdiction for your specific case without the actual documents (contract clauses, performance place, addresses, claim type).

“What happens if I do not respond to a Romanian summons because I am abroad?”

Non-response can cause serious procedural consequences (loss of defence opportunities, case progressing without your input, cost exposure). The safest approach is to confirm service date and act immediately: request the file, diarise deadlines, and prepare a defence consistent with the Civil Procedure Code.

If service is cross-border within the EU, the service regulation provides structured routes and safeguards: Regulation (EU) 2020/1784. Practically, it is often better to preserve your position procedurally while also assessing any service irregularities.

“Are English documents accepted without translation?”

Courts operate in Romanian, and key documents may require Romanian translations to be usable. Whether translation is required in your specific file depends on the court practice, the procedural stage, and the relevance of the document.

For the Romanian framework around authorized translators/interpreters (often relevant in legal contexts), see Law no. 178/1997. For a practical approach that avoids unnecessary translation costs, see our guide: Apostille/legalization/translations – practical guide.

“When do I need an apostille for foreign documents?”

An apostille is typically used for foreign public documents to be used officially in another contracting state under the Hague Apostille Convention (1961): HCCH – Apostille Convention. Whether a specific document qualifies and whether apostille is required depends on the document’s nature (public vs private) and the Romanian institution requiring it (court, notary, authority).

Because requirements can vary by institution and context, a practical checklist is often the fastest path to a correct setup: Apostille/translations guide.

“How do I bring witnesses or evidence from abroad into a Romanian case?”

You can submit documentary evidence directly (with translations where needed), and you can plan witness evidence strategically. Where evidence must be taken abroad within the EU, courts can rely on cooperation under Regulation (EU) 2020/1783.

The practical key is structure: which witness proves which fact, how that fact supports a specific legal element, and what documents corroborate it. For an applied guide: Evidence & witnesses abroad – practical guide.

“Can I obtain quick asset freezes or garnishments in Romania?”

Romanian procedure allows interim/provisional measures, but conditions are case-specific and timing is critical. In cross-border EU contexts, interim measures intersect with jurisdiction and enforceability considerations under Regulation (EU) 1215/2012.

For a focused practical guide on provisional measures (including scenarios where the main dispute or arbitration is abroad), see: Provisional measures in Romania (seizure/garnishment) for foreign disputes and arbitration.

“I have a foreign judgment. Can I enforce it directly in Romania?”

If the judgment is from an EU Member State and the matter is civil/commercial, recognition and enforcement are streamlined under Regulation (EU) 1215/2012. For judgments outside the EU, the route depends on Romanian private international law rules and any applicable treaties, and it usually requires a recognition/enforcement procedure.

For a step-by-step overview (documents, practical sequencing), see: Recognition & enforcement of foreign judgments in Romania.

“I have a foreign arbitral award. How do I enforce it in Romania?”

Foreign arbitral awards are typically enforced under the framework of the New York Convention (1958), which sets recognition and enforcement standards: UNCITRAL – New York Convention (text). The enforcement file usually requires the award, the arbitration agreement, and proper translations and formalities.

I cannot confirm the exact route for your case without reviewing the award and the place of arbitration, but the general rule is: prepare the documentation carefully, anticipate limited refusal grounds, and align enforcement steps with asset location in Romania.

Frequent traps in cross-border disputes involving Romania

• Mixing procedural deadlines with limitation periods: you file “in time” procedurally but the claim is already time-barred (or the reverse). Practical orientation: limitation guide.
• Assuming English documents are sufficient: translation strategy is missing, and the file becomes unusable or overly expensive; see: apostille/translations guide.
• Losing service proof: envelopes, tracking slips, email headers, portal screenshots—these often decide deadline disputes (procedure anchor: Civil Procedure Code).
• Unstructured foreign evidence: dumping emails/logs without relevance mapping; see: evidence guide.
• Ignoring EU jurisdiction rules: starting in the wrong forum and losing months; anchor: Regulation (EU) 1215/2012.
• No enforcement plan: winning the case but failing to collect; enforcement framework: Law no. 188/2000.

When it makes sense to hire a lawyer immediately (practical signals)

• You received a summons/claim and the response deadline is short (procedure is strict: Civil Procedure Code).
• The file has an EU cross-border element and you risk parallel proceedings or wrong-forum litigation (Reg. 1215/2012, Reg. 2020/1784, Reg. 2020/1783).
• There is a real asset dissipation risk and you may need provisional measures quickly (see: provisional measures guide).
• You have a foreign judgment or arbitral award and want enforcement in Romania (see: recognition/enforcement guide; arbitration anchor: New York Convention (1958)).
• Translations/apostille/powers of attorney are needed while deadlines are running (see: apostille/translations guide and Apostille Convention).

Short glossary (10–15 terms) for foreign clients

• Jurisdiction: which court is competent to hear the case (EU civil/commercial anchor: Reg. 1215/2012).
• Applicable law: which substantive law governs the contract/tort (common EU anchors: Rome I, Rome II).
• Service of documents: the formal transmission of court documents (EU anchor: Reg. 2020/1784).
• Statement of defence: formal response by the defendant (procedural anchor: Civil Procedure Code).
• Provisional measures: urgent measures to preserve assets (attachments/garnishments/seizures).
• Enforceable title: a document that allows enforcement (judgment, certain notarial instruments, etc.).
• Bailiff (Romania): the professional who carries out enforcement (framework: Law no. 188/2000).
• Apostille: certification for foreign public documents under the Hague Convention (1961): Apostille Convention.
• European Payment Order (EPO): EU procedure for certain monetary claims (anchor: Reg. 1896/2006).
• European Small Claims Procedure: EU procedure for low-value cross-border cases (anchor: Reg. 861/2007).
• European Enforcement Order (EEO): EU certification for uncontested claims (anchor: Reg. 805/2004).
• Administrative litigation: lawsuits against public authorities (anchor: Law no. 554/2004).

Sources

Romania (official legislation portal):

• Law no. 134/2010 – Romanian Civil Procedure Code
• Law no. 287/2009 – Romanian Civil Code
• Law no. 554/2004 – Administrative litigation
• Law no. 188/2000 – Bailiffs
• GEO no. 80/2013 – Court fees
• GEO no. 51/2008 – Legal aid in civil matters
• Law no. 178/1997 – Authorized translators/interpreters
• Law no. 192/2006 – Mediation
• Law no. 85/2014 – Insolvency
• Law no. 36/1995 – Notaries public

European Union (official texts – EUR-Lex):

• Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 (Brussels I recast)
• Regulation (EU) 2020/1784 (service of documents)
• Regulation (EU) 2020/1783 (taking of evidence)
• Regulation (EC) 593/2008 (Rome I)
• Regulation (EC) 864/2007 (Rome II)
• Regulation (EC) 1896/2006 (European Payment Order)
• Regulation (EC) 861/2007 (European Small Claims)
• Regulation (EC) 805/2004 (European Enforcement Order)
• Regulation (EU) 2015/848 (insolvency)

International & official portals:

• HCCH – Apostille Convention (1961)
• UNCITRAL – New York Convention (1958) (text)
• European e-Justice Portal – European Payment Order
• European e-Justice Portal – European Payment Order forms
• European e-Justice Portal – Service of documents

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