Procedures
Judicial Code procedure, with a new code phased in
Civil litigation follows Book II of the Judicial Code. A new Civil Procedure Code (Ley 402 of 2023) introduces oral hearings and electronic filing, with entry into force staged, so practitioners must confirm which regime applies to a given case.
Key rules
- The ordinary process is written, with cassation to the Supreme Court's First Chamber on limited grounds.
- Provisional attachment (secuestro) is widely used and can be obtained on security before serving the defendant.
- Executive process gives a fast route for enforcing documented obligations.
- Foreign judgments require exequátur before the Supreme Court's Fourth Chamber.
- Arbitration is supported by Ley 131 de 2013, which adopts the UNCITRAL Model Law with a competence-competence rule.
Governing law
- Código JudicialCivil procedure, Book II.
- Ley 402 de 2023New Civil Procedure Code, phased entry into force.
- Ley 131 de 2013Commercial arbitration.
In practice
Secuestro before notice is a distinctive and aggressive feature of Panamanian practice, frequently used against vessels and bank accounts. Confirm the applicable code before calculating deadlines during the transition.