Unlike German law, the standard limitation period in Italy is 10 years. Depending on the legal relationship on which the claim is based, it is therefore quite possible that the limitation period has not expired before 10 years have elapsed since the claim arose. Furthermore, according to Italian law, even a formal reminder suspends the statute of limitations, so that, unlike in Germany, the statute of limitations can be considerably extended by certain action on the part of the creditor, even without recourse to the courts.