Civil & Commercial Recovery
Money recovery lawyer in Chennai
MDR Law & Associates helps individuals and businesses recover unpaid loans, invoices and dues through legal notice, civil suits and cheque bounce proceedings in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu. The best route depends on your documents, the time limit and what the debtor owns.
Matters we handle
- Legal notice for recovery of money
- Summary suits under Order 37 CPC
- Ordinary recovery and commercial suits
- Cheque bounce under Section 138
- Unpaid invoices and business dues
- Hand loans without a written agreement
- Attachment before judgment
- Execution of money decrees
- MSME delayed payment claims
- Settlement through mediation and Lok Adalat
How a case usually proceeds
- 1
Gather the proof of the debt
Agreements, invoices, bank statements, cheques and messages acknowledging the amount are the backbone of a recovery case. Hand loans without a written agreement.
- 2
Check limitation
A suit for recovery of money is generally to be filed within three years of the due date, though a written acknowledgment before expiry can give a fresh period. Limitation explained.
- 3
Send a legal notice
A notice states the amount and the demand and is mandatory before a Section 138 complaint. It often leads to settlement. Legal notice for recovery.
- 4
Choose the forum
Depending on the facts, the route may be a summary suit, an ordinary suit, a cheque bounce complaint or a claim before the MSME council. Order 37 summary suit.
- 5
Secure and execute
Where the debtor may hide assets, attachment before judgment can be sought, and the decree is later executed. Attachment before judgment.
Common questions
Questions people ask us
How long do I have to file a suit to recover money?
Generally three years from the date the money became due. A written acknowledgment of the debt or a part payment made before that period ends can extend it. Because the period is strict, check the dates before doing anything else.
Is a legal notice compulsory before filing a suit?
Not for an ordinary civil suit, but it is advisable. It is mandatory before a cheque bounce complaint under Section 138, and certain suits, such as commercial suits that do not need urgent relief, require pre-institution mediation first.
What is a summary suit under Order 37?
It is a faster form of suit for claims based on written contracts, bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes and similar debts. The defendant must get the court’s leave to defend, and if leave is refused a decree can follow quickly.
My cheque bounced. Do I file a criminal case or a civil suit?
Both are possible, and they can run together. A Section 138 complaint is a criminal remedy with strict deadlines, while a civil suit recovers the debt. Our guide on cheque bounce and civil recovery explains how to choose.
Can I recover money lent without any written agreement?
Yes, if you can prove the loan with other evidence such as bank transfers, messages, witnesses and part payments. A hand loan paid in cash is harder to prove, so gather whatever record exists.
Guides you may find useful
Legal Notice for Recovery of Money: Format, Time Limit and What If It's Ignored
A legal notice is usually the first step in recovering a debt, but it is mandatory only in some situations. Learn what it should contain, how much time to give, how to serve it, and what happens if the debtor ignores it.
Order 37 Summary Suit: Filing, Leave to Defend and What Courts Expect
Order 37 of the CPC is the fast lane for money recovery: the defendant cannot defend the suit unless the court grants leave. This guide explains who can use it, how leave to defend is decided, and where these suits fail.
Limitation for Recovery of Money: Three Years, Acknowledgment and Part Payment
Most money claims must be filed within three years, but the clock can restart on a written acknowledgment or a part payment, and pause in some cases. Here is how to calculate whether an old debt is still recoverable.
Recovering a Hand Loan Without a Written Agreement in India
Lending money to a friend or relative without a document is common, and recovering it is difficult but not impossible. Here is what evidence counts, the cash-loan rules, the legal steps, and the time limit.
Cheque Bounce Under Section 138: Civil Recovery Options Explained
A bounced cheque is usually pursued as a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, but that isn't the only recovery route — and understanding both the criminal and civil options changes how quickly you actually get paid.
A Company Isn't Paying My Invoice: Notice, Summary Suit, IBC or Arbitration?
When a company stops paying a valid invoice, there are at least six legal routes to recover the money. Choosing the wrong one costs months — here is how to decide which fits your documents, your contract and the debtor's finances.
Our offices in Chennai
Litigation Office (Madras High Court)
I-L, Law Chamber, 2nd Floor
No. 103/50, Armenian Street
George Town, Parrys, Chennai - 600 001
Anna Nagar Office
No. 1/1, Fourth Floor, Fifth Square
10th Main Road Extension, TAS Enclave
Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar West, Chennai - 600 040
We appear before the Supreme Court of India, Madras High Court, Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Discuss your matter
Call +91 86829 74777 or write to mdrlaw.associates@gmail.com. This page is general information and not legal advice.
Request a consultation