Regulated profession · Algeria
The legal officer who records, serves and enforces
Bailiffs practice under Law No. 06-03 of February 20, 2006 on the organization of the bailiff profession (Official Gazette No. 14), amended and supplemented by Law No. 23-13 of August 5, 2023 (Official Gazette No. 52), which redefines their practice conditions, duties and obligations — and now incorporates auctioneer responsibilities into the profession (Art. 10). Under Article 4 of Law 06-03, they are a public officer mandated by public authority, appointed by order of the Minister of Justice. Their four official duties are defined in Article 12: service of documents and writs, enforcement of civil court decisions, amicable or judicial debt collection, and official reports. They are placed under the supervision of the public prosecutor and overseen by the National Chamber of Bailiffs.
Service of judicial documents
They officially notify summonses, judgments, formal notices and procedural documents to the parties concerned. Without service by a bailiff, a judicial document is not legally enforceable against a party.
Enforcement of judgments
When a court orders someone to pay or do something, the bailiff is responsible for enforcing the decision: bank account seizure, vehicle seizure, eviction, etc.
Official reports
They draw up official reports that serve as evidence in court: condition of a rented property, construction defects, unauthorized advertising, website content, contradictory property inspection.
Debt collection
For unpaid rent, commercial invoices, loans between individuals — the bailiff can initiate a payment order procedure and proceed with seizures if necessary.
Inventories and valuations
They draw up the official inventory of assets for an estate, judicial liquidation or seizure. Their valuation serves as the reference for distribution.
Commercial reports
For businesses: reports on unfair competition, counterfeiting, breach of contract, site conditions — the bailiff's official report is the strongest evidence.
You have a favorable judgment that isn't being respected
The bailiff is responsible for enforcement. They carry out seizures and enforcement measures to recover what you are owed.
You have a tenant who has stopped paying
The bailiff issues the formal notice, initiates the payment order procedure and can proceed with eviction after judgment.
You have an unpaid commercial invoice
For undisputed debts, the bailiff can quickly obtain a payment order without lengthy proceedings, then seize the debtor's assets.
You need to prove a fact irrefutably
A bailiff's report is the strongest evidence in court: condition of a property before renovation, content of an email or website, breach of a contractual obligation.
You received a judicial document
Check that it was properly served by a bailiff — this is the condition for legal appeal deadlines to start running.
Bailiff vs Lawyer
The lawyer obtains court decisions. The bailiff enforces them. After winning in court, it's the bailiff who enforces the judgment.
Bailiff vs Notary
The notary creates deeds preventively to secure rights. The bailiff intervenes afterward to record or enforce.
Bailiff vs Police and justice
The bailiff is not a state agent — they are an independent ministerial officer. They act on judicial mandate or at an individual's request for official reports.
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