There are several options available to pursue debt collection through the Mexican courts, all based on a different strategy which will depend on how the commercial transaction was conducted and documented. In general, you will be able to pursue your claim through an ordinary or an executory proceeding, the latter of which is preferable. If an executory proceeding is not available due to its strict nature and constraints, there is a preliminary proceeding available that can further allow access the executory proceeding. It is also possible to obtain a prejudgment judicial attachment order to seize assets from your debtor at the outset of the case, but that will be discussed in the next question. The following are rough ideas about each of these proceedings: Ordinary proceedings. These proceedings accommodate for most of the cases where an international business transaction is disputed. This is mainly because they do not rely on a credit instrument or a special title document (executory title or “título ejecutivo”) and, therefore, do not allow for immediate interim measures to secure proper execution of a final judgment unless, strict guidelines for prejudgment remedies are followed, including the posting of a required bond. The ordinary proceeding is a relatively longer proceeding, allowing you more time and opportunity to prepare and request the admission of evidence in court, and also providing wider opportunities to counterclaim. Executory proceedings. Plaintiffs find more effective and efficient to sue through executory proceeding rather than through the ordinary proceeding. Reasons are plenty. First, the executory title (título ejecutivo) on which the proceeding is based, creates a presumption that the claim exists and that it’s legally valid and, therefore, turning the burden of proof on the defendant. Second, the same executory title gives a preliminary certitude of the plaintiff’s claims allowing, therefore, an immediate ex parte prejudgment attachment order without the need to place a bond. Third, it is rather a summary proceeding in which evidence admission and proposals (submissions) are limited to the initial stages through the pleadings of complaint and answer. This makes for a shorter and faster proceeding in which a final judgment is usually going to be reached in less time. The drawback to this proceeding is that is not always available to all creditors since they must account for a título ejecutivo, which can be a credit instrument (such as a pagaré or a bill of exchange), a judgment, or a judicial acknowledgment of debt —among other possibilities. Civil Summary Proceedings. The summary proceeding is analogous or similar to the executory proceeding but, it is mostly used in civil cases at State level courts. The main purpose of a summary proceeding is usually to demand payment of an obligation or liability arising out of contract or tort, as recognized in the specific situations provided under State civil procedure rules. It is specially or more commonly used to foreclose on a mortgage and to evict tenants for non-payment of their lease. As with the executory proceeding, this proceeding is “summary” in nature and, thus, evidence admission and proposals (submissions) are also limited to the initial stages through the pleadings of complaint and answer, which is aimed at making for a shorter and faster proceeding to try to reach a final ruling in less time. Preliminary proceedings. The main purpose of a preliminary proceeding —within the collection process— is to obtain a judicial acknowledgment of debt that will enable an executory proceeding instead of pursuing your claim through the ordinary proceeding. It usually starts with a formal petition from the creditor in which facts relating to the debt are stated and a subpoena or citation for the debtor is requested. The court will setup a hearing date in which debtor will have to respond as to whether he owes the creditor or not. If debtor fails to attend the hearing at the scheduled time, the Judge will consider the stated claim as legally acknowledged by debtor. The supporting documents to the acknowledged debt will constitute an executory title (título ejecutivo) that will be enforceable and can be pursued through an executory proceeding. Oral proceedings. About ten years ago (2011), Mexico passed federal laws to established procedures that would gradually convert all commercial proceedings from a formal written nature (based on an inquisitorial model), into one of an “oral” or “adversarial” nature, to become what are now known as “oral proceedings”. The purpose of this reform was to make the legal process more efficient, more transparent, where the judge would become more involved and more immersed in the cases at hand, handing down justice in a much faster and effective way. These new set of rules apply today (2021) over all new commercial disputes, turning all of the ordinary and executory proceedings into oral proceedings of that same quality or nature (i.e., oral executory proceedings, and oral ordinary proceeding). There are some exceptions, including the preliminary proceedings and preliminary precautionary measures, which continue the same formal process as before.