Foreign Judgments Enforcement
Jordan Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law (1952)
The Law establishes the framework for recognizing and enforcing judgments issued abroad within Jordan, defining which foreign rulings are covered and how enforcement petitions are brought before courts of first instance. It sets out documentary requirements, grounds for refusal and connects enforcement procedures to Jordanian procedural law.
Updated: 30 January 2022
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Scope and Definitions
The Law defines a "foreign judgment" as any ruling issued by a court outside the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including religious courts, that orders payment of money, a movable-property award, or an accounting settlement. It also covers an arbitration award when that award is enforceable in the country where arbitration took place under the applicable local law, thereby delimiting the substantive scope of enforceable foreign decisions.
Forum and Where to File an Enforcement Petition
Enforcement must be sought by filing a petition before a court of first instance. The petition is filed either in the first-instance court of the debtor’s residence or in the court where the debtor’s property to be levied is located if the debtor is not resident in Jordan. The courts may also arrange service or notification to persons outside their territorial jurisdiction in line with Jordanian procedural rules.
Required Documents and Formalities
The judgment creditor must submit a certified copy of the foreign judgment to the court, together with a certified translation when the judgment is not in Arabic. Additional copies should be provided for transmission to the opposing party according to service procedures. Proceedings under this Law are governed by the provisions of the Jordanian Code of Civil Procedure.
Grounds for Refusal and Procedural Limits
The Law lists multiple grounds on which a Jordanian court may decline enforcement: lack of jurisdiction by the foreign court (for example where the debtor had no business or residence ties or did not voluntarily submit to jurisdiction), failure to summon the debtor, fraud in obtaining the judgment, lack of finality, or that the subject matter concerns disputes contrary to Jordanian public order or morals. Enforcement may also be denied on the basis of lack of reciprocity if the foreign legal system does not permit enforcement of Jordanian judgments.
Practical Effects and Enforcement Measures
When a court accepts enforcement of a foreign judgment, it is executed using the same enforcement mechanisms applicable to domestic Jordanian judgments, enabling seizure and other enforcement measures under Jordanian procedural law. The Law also interacts with certain repealed prior rules and practical enforcement depends on the foreign judgment’s finality, documentary sufficiency and compatibility with public order.
Legal notice
Disclaimer: This summary is for general educational purposes and is based on the published statutory text. The original source is linked on the page containing this summary. You should consult the official text and verify any amendments or time limits, and this summary does not substitute for advice from a licensed Jordanian lawyer before taking legal action.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.
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