Colombian Extrajudicial Demand: Requerimiento Extrajudicial

In Colombia, the requerimiento extrajudicial is a critical pre-litigation instrument governed by the Código General del Proceso (CGP — General Code of Procedure, Law 1564 of 2012) and the Código Civil. Sending a proper requerimiento before filing a demanda (lawsuit) is not merely good practice — in some cases it is a procedural prerequisite, and in all cases it significantly strengthens the creditor\'s position.

Legal Effects of the Requerimiento

Under Colombian law:

  • Constitución en mora (default): Under Article 1608 of the Código Civil, the debtor is in mora (default) from the moment of formal interpelación (demand). The requerimiento extrajudicial is the standard method of interpelación.
  • Interrupción de la prescripción (interruption of limitations): Under Article 94 CGP (as amended by Law 1564/2012), a valid extrajudicial requerimiento interrupts the prescripción for one time only (una sola vez), giving the creditor an additional period to file the lawsuit.
  • Requisito de procedibilidad (procedural prerequisite): For certain claims, including ejecutivos (enforcement proceedings) and some declarativos, prior extrajudicial demand may be required for cost recovery.

Content and Delivery

A proper Colombian requerimiento extrajudicial should include:

  • Full identification of both parties (nombres, cédulas/NIT, direcciones)
  • Specific amount claimed with breakdown (capital + intereses)
  • Legal basis (contract details, invoice numbers)
  • Clear deadline for payment (usually 5-10 business days)
  • Warning of legal action (proceso ejecutivo or declarativo)

Delivery should be by correo certificado con acuse de recibo (registered mail with return receipt). For maximum evidentiary weight, delivery via notaría (notary) is recommended.

The Proceso Monitorio (Payment Order)

Colombia introduced the proceso monitorio in Articles 419-421 of the CGP, following the European model. This procedure is available for monetary claims up to 40 SMLMV (salarios mínimos legales mensuales vigentes — approximately COP 52,000,000).

Key features:

  • Ex parte order: The judge reviews the written evidence (documentos) and, if satisfied, issues a requerimiento de pago (payment demand) without hearing the debtor.
  • 10-day payment or opposition: The debtor has 10 days from notification to pay or oppose.
  • No opposition = título ejecutivo: If the debtor does not oppose, the judge issues a sentencia monitoria, which becomes an enforceable title.
  • Opposition converts to ordinary process: If the debtor opposes with a genuine defense, the case converts to proceso declarativo (full litigation).