Italy's Foreclosure Timing

Still Uneven, Slowly Improving

The ninth edition of the Studio dei tempi report, curated by the Associazione T.S.E.I., provides a detailed analysis of the durations of individual judicial enforcement procedures concluded in 2024. While the number of resolved cases continues to rise, the report underscores persistent inefficiencies and significant geographical disparities in the performance of Italy’s courts. This article outlines the key findings, trends, and recommendations from the study.

Judicial Enforcement in Italy: A Complex Picture

In 2024, Italian courts closed 51,948 individual enforcement procedures—up 6.3% from the previous year and 4.7% from 2022. Despite this increase in resolved cases, the national average duration slightly rose to 4.98 years, compared to 4.94 in 2023.

The report confirms long-standing regional disparities: while courts in Northern Italy often complete procedures in under five years, courts in the South and Islands can take over seven. For instance, Bolzano leads with an average of just 1.4 years, whereas Matera and Agrigento exceed 7.5 years on average.

Breakdown by Procedure Type

Out of all resolved procedures:

• 54% ended with a judicial sale (aggiudicazione)

• 32% were settled out of court (stragiudiziale)

• 14% closed for other reasons before sale

The average time to reach a judicial sale was 6.12 years, while out-of-court settlements were resolved in an average of 3.69 years, indicating that negotiated solutions are not only faster but may also relieve pressure on the judicial system.

Institutional Gaps and Court Size

Large and medium-large tribunals outperformed small courts. For example, the average duration in large courts was 4.35 years, while small courts averaged 5.23 years. The data suggests that court size and internal organization significantly impact efficiency.

Furthermore, among the most efficient in terms of reaching a sale and distributing proceeds were courts like Gorizia (2.01 years), Trieste (2.65 years), and Ferrara (3.04 years). Conversely, some courts took over a decade—highlighting deep organizational or structural issues.

Geographical and Structural Inefficiencies

• Macro-area performance: Northern courts (North-West and North-East) consistently outperform Southern and Island courts. For instance, the North-West averages 3.84 years per procedure, while the Islands reach 5.76 years.

• Macro-phase bottlenecks: The sale phase remains the most time-consuming, accounting for over 40% of total procedure duration.

Paths Forward

The report stresses the importance of standardizing practices and promoting best-performing court models nationwide. It advocates for broader dissemination of efficient workflows, shared platforms, and better coordination among judges, lawyers, and court auxiliaries.

Conclusion

While Italy’s judicial enforcement system shows some signs of progress, it remains fragmented and unequal. Performance varies sharply by geography and tribunal size, reflecting systemic inefficiencies that demand unified action. To truly improve, the country must shift from a patchwork of localized solutions to cohesive, national reforms.

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http://www.osservatoriot6.com/i-tempi-dei-tribunali-2025/

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