Chilean Pre-Judicial Demands: Carta de Requerimiento and Gestión Preparatoria

In Chile, debt recovery typically follows a two-stage process: the extrajudicial carta de requerimiento (demand letter), followed by the gestión preparatoria de la vía ejecutiva (preparatory measures for enforcement procedure) under the Código de Procedimiento Civil (CPC). Understanding both stages is essential for effective debt recovery in Chile.

Stage 1: Carta de Requerimiento Extrajudicial

The carta de requerimiento is a formal pre-judicial demand letter. While not explicitly regulated in the CPC, it is a well-established practice in Chilean legal culture and may be required by contract or recommended by counsel. A proper carta de requerimiento should:

  • Be sent by carta certificada (registered mail) or delivered by notario
  • Clearly state the debt (amount, origin, date)
  • Fix a deadline for payment (usually 5-10 business days)
  • Warn of legal action including gestión preparatoria and juicio ejecutivo

Stage 2: Gestión Preparatoria de la Vía Ejecutiva

The gestión preparatoria under Articles 273-275 CPC is a unique Chilean procedure that serves as a bridge between extrajudicial demand and enforcement proceedings. It is a judicial process where the creditor asks the court to take preparatory measures before filing the enforcement action (juicio ejecutivo).

Under Article 273, the gestión preparatoria can be used to:

  • Obtain recognition of a private document: The creditor asks the court to summon the debtor to recognize (reconocer) a private document — invoice, contract, acknowledgment of debt — as authentic. If the debtor recognizes it, the document becomes an enforceable title (título ejecutivo).
  • Obtain a debtor\'s sworn statement: Under Article 273 No. 4, the creditor can request that the debtor declare under oath whether they owe the claimed amount.
  • Prepare accounting evidence: For commercial debts, the creditor can request exhibition of the debtor\'s accounting books.

The Juicio Ejecutivo (Enforcement Proceeding)

Once the creditor obtains an enforceable title (título ejecutivo) — either because the debtor recognized the document in the gestión preparatoria, or because the document qualifies under Article 434 CPC (public deeds, judicial decisions, etc.) — the creditor can file a juicio ejecutivo.

The juicio ejecutivo is a summary enforcement procedure with limited defenses. The debtor can only raise specific exceptions (excepciones) listed in Article 464 CPC, such as payment (pago de la deuda), prescription (prescripción), or forgery (falsedad del título). General defenses are not permitted. The court orders seizure of assets (embargo) immediately upon filing (Article 443 CPC), making this a powerful collection tool.