Removal of seizure from the debtor’s accounts

Removal of Arrest from Bank Accounts

The law allows an enforcement officer to seize funds belonging to a debtor that are held in bank accounts and other financial institutions. At the same time, enforcement under enforcement documents may primarily be directed against the debtor’s monetary funds. In practice, a person may learn about the arrest:

• after a bank card is blocked;
• when attempting to withdraw cash;
• when unable to make a payment;
• after receiving a notification from the bank;
• after funds are debited from the account;
• through the Unified Register of Debtors;
• through the Automated Enforcement Proceedings System;
• after receiving an order from a state or private enforcement officer.

The arrest may be related to:

• credit debt;
• utility debt;
• alimony obligations;
• fines;
• tax debt;
• a court judgment ordering payment of funds;
• an enforcement inscription or another enforcement document;
• other obligations subject to compulsory enforcement.

Benefits of Working with Prikhodko & Partners

We help:

• review the enforcement proceedings;
• obtain and analyze the arrest order;
• check the legal basis for enforcement;
• determine the legal regime of the blocked account;
• verify the source of the funds;
• prepare an application to lift the arrest;
• designate an account for permitted debit transactions;
• prepare a complaint against the enforcement officer’s actions or inaction;
• support judicial challenges;
• monitor the actual removal of restrictions by the bank.

What Should Be Checked After an Account Is Blocked

It is necessary to determine step by step:

1. which enforcement officer imposed the arrest;
2. the number of the enforcement proceedings;
3. which enforcement document is being executed;
4. the amount of the debt;
5. which accounts are covered by the arrest;
6. what funds are credited to the blocked account;
7. whether the account has a special legal regime;
8. whether there are grounds for full or partial removal of the arrest;
9. which enforcement actions have already been taken.

Only after this can it be determined whether the debt should be paid, an application to lift the arrest should be filed, an account for debit transactions should be designated, or the order should be challenged.

Accounts and Funds Exempt from Enforcement

At the same time, the law expressly prohibits enforcement against certain funds and accounts with a special use regime. If the bank determines that the arrest applies to funds in an account against which enforcement is prohibited by law, it must notify the enforcement officer and return the order without execution in the relevant part. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between:

• an ordinary current account of an individual;
• an account with a special use regime;
• an account receiving certain payments protected by law;
• a salary account as the actual destination for salary payments;
• other accounts and funds with a special legal regime.

The mere fact that a card is used to receive a particular type of payment does not automatically determine the legal regime of all funds held on it. Therefore, in a dispute it is necessary to review:

• the type of account;
• the purpose of the account;
• the agreement with the bank;
• the source of incoming funds;
• payment descriptions;
• bank statements;
• documents confirming the special nature of the funds;
• whether the law prohibits enforcement against the relevant funds.

Article 59 of the Law of Ukraine “On Enforcement Proceedings” provides that after receiving documentary confirmation of the special regime of the account or a statutory prohibition on enforcement, the enforcement officer must lift the arrest from the relevant funds.

Account for Debit Transactions During Martial Law

For this purpose, the debtor may apply to a state or private enforcement officer with a request to designate one current account for debit transactions. Under the current rules, during one calendar month the debtor may use an amount from such an account not exceeding two minimum monthly wages established as of January 1 of the relevant year. In 2026, the minimum monthly wage is UAH 8,647, so the monthly limit for debit transactions is up to UAH 17,294. The application should include:

• the debtor’s full name;
• the taxpayer identification number or other required identification details;
• the enforcement proceeding number;
• the IBAN of the selected current account;
• the name of the bank;
• a request to designate this account for debit transactions;
• the applicant’s contact details.

If several accounts are arrested or there are several enforcement proceedings, only one account is still designated for this regime.

Opening a new bank card usually does not solve the arrest problem by itself. A more effective option may be to use the statutory procedure for designating one account for permitted debit transactions.

How to Remove an Arrest from a Bank Account

Depending on the circumstances, the procedure may look like this:

1. Obtain information about the reason for the arrest.
2. Review the enforcement proceedings.
3. Obtain the enforcement officer’s order.
4. Check the enforcement document and the amount of debt.
5. Determine the legal regime of the account and the source of funds.
6. Identify the legal grounds for lifting the arrest.
7. Prepare an application and supporting documents.
8. Submit the documents to the state or private enforcement officer.
9. Obtain an order lifting the arrest where legal grounds exist.
10. Check whether the order has been received by the bank and whether the account has actually been unblocked.

Grounds for Lifting an Arrest

These may include, in particular:

• full performance of the obligation;
• completion of enforcement proceedings on the relevant legal ground;
• confirmation that the account has a special legal regime;
• confirmation that enforcement against the relevant funds is prohibited by law;
• cancellation of the enforcement document or court decision;
• cancellation of the arrest order;
• a finding that the enforcement officer’s actions were unlawful;
• other grounds provided by law.

It should not be automatically assumed that every return of an enforcement document or every completion of a particular action immediately removes all arrests. The specific ground for completion or return and the legal consequences of the relevant order must be reviewed.

What to Do If the Debt Has Been Paid but the Account Remains Arrested

It is necessary to check:

• whether the principal debt has been fully paid;
• whether the enforcement fee or the private enforcement officer’s basic remuneration has been paid;
• whether enforcement expenses have been paid;
• whether any other amounts remain outstanding;
• whether an order completing the proceedings has been issued;
• whether the arrest has been lifted by a separate order;
• whether the relevant information has been sent to the bank;
• whether there are any other enforcement proceedings.

If the necessary grounds have already arisen but the enforcement officer does not take the required actions, such inaction may need to be challenged separately.

Challenging the Arrest of a Bank Account

The lawyer checks:

• who issued the order;
• which enforcement document the officer is acting under;
• whether statutory requirements were followed;
• whether the debtor was identified correctly;
• whether there are legal grounds to recover the specific amount;
• whether the arrest applies to funds protected by law;
• whether procedural deadlines were observed;
• whether there are grounds to challenge the enforcement officer’s actions or inaction.

The law provides both administrative mechanisms within the enforcement system and judicial protection, depending on the nature of the violation.

Legal Assistance with Arrested Bank Accounts

Legal assistance may include:

• analysis of enforcement proceedings;
• review of the enforcement document;
• analysis of the arrest order;
• review of the bank account and source of funds;
• preparation of an application to lift the arrest;
• preparation of an application to designate an account for debit transactions;
• obtaining documents from the bank;
• preparation of complaints against the enforcement officer;
• representation in court;
• monitoring the actual unblocking of funds.

Cost of Legal Assistance

The cost is affected by:

• the number of enforcement proceedings;
• the amount of debt;
• the type of enforcement document;
• the number of arrested accounts;
• the legal regime of the funds;
• the need to obtain documents from the bank;
• the need to submit an application to the enforcement officer;
• whether there are grounds for challenging the arrest;
• the need for court proceedings;
• the scope of further legal support.

In one case, reviewing the proceedings and preparing an application may be sufficient. In another, it may be necessary to challenge the enforcement officer’s actions, work with the bank, and conduct court proceedings.

Common Situations Involving Arrested Accounts

Conclusion

Removal of an arrest from a bank account depends on the legal basis for enforcement, the stage of enforcement proceedings, the type of account, and the source of the funds. In some cases, it is necessary to document the account’s special regime; in others, to designate an account for permitted debit transactions, pay the debt, or challenge unlawful actions of the enforcement officer. Therefore, the process should begin with a review of the enforcement proceedings and the arrest order itself.

Has the bank blocked your card because of enforcement proceedings? Submit a request on the Prikhodko & Partners Law Firm website. A lawyer will review the legal basis for the arrest, the status of the account, and the enforcement documents and determine the available way to unblock the funds.