A foundation is an enforceable legal title attached to a case that gives the collection partner the right to enforce the debt directly. Foundations unlock the Enforcement phase, making actions such as wage garnishment, bailiff proceedings, and asset seizure possible.
Actors involved: Client, Collection Partner, Debitura (Backend Admin)
What is a foundation
A foundation is a formal legal instrument - issued by a court or authority - that gives a collection partner the enforceable right to recover a debt directly. Examples include court judgments, payment orders, and debt acknowledgments.
In Debitura, a foundation is attached to a specific case. A single case can have multiple foundations, which is common when a title is renewed before expiry or when different instruments cover different portions of the debt.
Why foundations matter
Foundations unlock the Enforcement phase of a case. Without an Active foundation, enforcement actions such as wage garnishment, bailiff proceedings, or asset seizure cannot be initiated.
Uploading a foundation does not change the case's current phase. The foundation only unlocks Enforcement as a future path. The actual phase change requires a separate quote flow.
Types of foundations
Debitura supports five types of enforceable titles:
Type | Description |
Court Judgment | A ruling issued by a court ordering the debtor to pay |
Payment Order | A simplified court order for uncontested monetary claims |
Debt Acknowledgment | A formal document where the debtor acknowledges the debt |
Installment Plan | A structured repayment agreement with enforceable terms |
Other | Any other instrument recognised as an enforceable title in the relevant jurisdiction |
Foundation status lifecycle
Each foundation has one of three statuses:
Status | Meaning |
Pending Validation | The foundation has been uploaded but is awaiting acknowledgement by the collection partner |
Active | The foundation is valid and available. The Enforcement phase is unlocked for this case |
Expired | The expiration date has passed. The system flags the foundation but does not take automated action |
Upload rules and auto-activation
Who uploads the foundation determines whether it is immediately active or requires partner validation:
Uploaded by | Initial status | Reason |
Collection Partner | Active (immediately) | The partner carries professional liability for the document |
Client | Pending Validation | The partner must review and confirm before the title can be used for enforcement |
Backend Admin | Pending Validation | Same as client upload - partner review is required |
A client-uploaded foundation that is not validated remains in Pending Validation indefinitely until the collection partner confirms it.
Foundation expiry
Some enforceable titles have a statutory expiry date. Debitura tracks this date and flags the foundation as Expired when it passes.
Expiry is a flag, not a trigger. The platform does not automatically close the case or end the engagement when a foundation expires. Some jurisdictions allow collection activity to continue after a title expires; others do not. The flag surfaces the situation so the collection partner can decide what to do, which commonly involves obtaining a renewed title through the Legal phase.
Foundation expiry is related to, but distinct from, the statute of limitations. The platform does not perform statute-of-limitations calculations. For general guidance on time-barred debt, see Statute of limitations.
Impact by actor
Client
Clients can upload a foundation to a case. Client-uploaded foundations require partner validation before becoming Active.
Foundations appear on the case detail page when relevant legal content exists for the case.
Collection Partner
Collection partners can upload foundations, which are auto-activated immediately due to the partner's professional liability.
Partners validate client-uploaded foundations before they can be used for enforcement.
Partners discover pending foundations through their portal.
If a partner uploads a fraudulent or incorrect title, the appropriate mechanism is the complaint system.
Debitura (Backend Admin)
Backend admins can upload foundations on behalf of a client. Admin-uploaded foundations follow the same validation rules as client uploads.