From Bogotá to Texas Courts: Enforcing Colombian Business Judgments in Harris

If you've won a case in Colombia—whether involving energy, agriculture, manufacturing, or international business—the real battle may just be beginning: enforcement. A Colombian judgment is only as powerful as your ability to collect on it. That means turning a foreign court decision into an enforceable, collectible asset in Texas.

At our firm, we specialize in precisely that: converting your hard-won Colombian judgment into a Texas court order—legally binding and enforceable. This article outlines how to do it, what language your Colombian judgment must include, and the strategic options available for execution.

🔏 Required Language in Colombian Judgments for Texas Enforcement

To enforce a foreign-country judgment in Harris County, Texas, including those from Colombia, the judgment must satisfy specific formal requirements. These include:

• ✅ Identification of all parties (Plaintiff/Defendant)
• ✅ The amount awarded or relief granted
• ✅ Clear indication that the judgment is final, conclusive, and enforceable
• ✅ Statement that it was issued by a court of competent jurisdiction
• ✅ Signature and date from a judicial officer and an official court seal or certificate
• ✅ Statement that either all appeals are exhausted or that the time to appeal has expired

💡 Tip: Colombian court language may not always mirror Texas expectations. A judgment must either contain or be supplemented with certifications to satisfy Texas legal thresholds. That's where our legal team comes in—we tailor enforcement filings to bridge the civil law structure of Colombia with the procedural requirements of Texas courts.

🌐 Apostillization & Translation: Making a Colombian Judgment U.S.-Ready

Since Colombia is a signatory to the Hague Convention (1961), judgments can be apostilled rather than authenticated through diplomatic channels. Here's how that works:

🖥️ Step-by-Step: Apostilling a Judgment in Colombia

• Submit the certified judgment to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
• The Ministry confirms the origin and authority of the judicial officer
• They issue the apostille certificate—a stamp or attached page certifying authenticity

Visit the Online Portal

Go to: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/apostilla

Upload the Document

• Must be in PDF format
• Max file size: 11 MB
• Digital signatures (if applicable) should be included

Enter Document Details

• Type of document
• Issuing entity (e.g., court or notary office)
• Contact details (email required for delivery)

Pay the Apostille Fee

• Approx. 33,000 COP per document
• Payment via PSE (Colombian online banking) or credit/debit card

Receive the Apostille

• Usually processed within 1–24 hours
• Delivered as a PDF with digital apostille sent via email

📍 In-Person Assistance

While the process is 100% digital, support is available at passport offices in major cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali for those needing help with digital access or document preparation.

🗣 Language Note: All documents must be in Spanish, but to be filed in Texas courts, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

⚖️ Turning a Colombian Judgment into a Texas Judgment

Once properly authenticated and translated, you have two legal paths:

✔️ 1. Domestication via Filing (UEFJA)

Under the Texas Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act:

• File the judgment and an affidavit identifying the parties and last known addresses
• Pay filing fees
• Serve the debtor with legal notice
• File proof of service
• Your Colombian judgment becomes a Texas judgment with full enforcement power

✔️ 2. File a Lawsuit on the Judgment

This approach is used in complex cases—fraud, jurisdictional disputes, or public policy concerns. Though slower, it offers more discovery and litigation tools.

📌 Important: Debtors cannot re-litigate the case. They may only object based on:

• Lack of jurisdiction
• Fraud
• Violation of public policy

These are narrow grounds and rarely succeed.

⏰ Time Limits You Must Know

• Domestication: Must occur within 10 years of the Colombian judgment's issuance
• Enforcement: Once domesticated, enforceable for 10 years, renewable as needed

💼 What We Do (So You Don't Have To)

Our firm provides a turnkey enforcement solution:

• Validate and analyze your Colombian judgment
• Translate and apostille if needed
• Prepare affidavits and legal filings
• Track debtor assets in Texas
• Enforce through liens, garnishments, property seizures
• Litigate when needed
• Negotiate settlements
• Assist with enforcing Texas judgments in Colombia or elsewhere

Get Legal Help in Harris County, Texas

Our experienced business debt collection attorneys can help you navigate the complex landscape of Texas debt collection laws and develop effective strategies to recover what you're owed. Our foreign judgment domestication expertise with commercial debt collection creates comprehensive solutions for international judgment enforcement.

For personalized legal advice about Judgment Enforcement in Harris County, Texas, contact us at:

• 📞 Phone: (281) 348-6723
• 📧 Email: busbytexas@gmail.com
• 📍 Address: 715 E. Whitney, Houston, TX 77008
• 🌐 Get Started Today