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How long does a debtor have to pay after an Execution Office file is opened in Israel?

Twenty days. Under Section 7 of the Execution Law 5727-1967, once a creditor opens a file at the Execution and Collection Authority (Hotzaa LaPoal), the office sends the debtor a warning (azhara) giving 20 days to pay the debt in full or to appear and arrange payment. If the debtor does nothing within that period, the creditor may request enforcement measures such as asset attachment, bank garnishment, or a stay-of-exit order. The 20-day clock runs from proper service of the warning, not from the day the file is opened.

The Execution and Collection Authority enforces money judgments and certain undisputed debts, such as a dishonored check or a signed promissory note. After a file is opened, Section 7 requires the office to serve a warning notice on the debtor stating the sum due and granting 20 days to comply. Within that window the debtor can pay in full, propose an instalment arrangement based on a declaration of means, or, in limited cases, file an objection, for example disputing that the original judgment was ever properly served. Because the 20 days run from valid service, proving service on a debtor, including one living abroad, is frequently the decisive procedural issue.

For a foreign creditor, the warning period is the gateway to real enforcement, so it pays to track it closely. If the debtor ignores the warning, the file moves to active measures and the debtor may be examined and classified as a debtor of limited means with a court-set payment plan. Where the debtor lives abroad, service can be slower and may require service through diplomatic channels or under the rules of the debtor's country, which extends the practical timeline. Interest and linkage continue to accrue on the debt throughout the process. Our guide to the Israeli Execution Office walks through each enforcement stage.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Section 7, Execution Law 5727-1967
  • Competent authority: Execution and Collection Authority (Rashut HaAchifa VehaGviya / Hotzaa LaPoal)
  • Warning period: 20 days from proper service of the warning (azhara)
  • File-opening fee: approximately 1.25% of the debt amount (2026), largely recoverable from the debtor
  • After the deadline: attachment of assets, bank and salary garnishment, and stay-of-exit orders become available

From the full guide: The Israeli Execution Office (Hotzaa LaPoal): How Enforcement Works

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Get a Free Consultation with Adv. Eli ShimonyPrepared under the direction of Adv. Eli Shimony, Eli Shimony Law Office · Editorial policy

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