Retired couple from Segrià exonerated from million-euro debt

A court in Lleida applies the Second Chance Law to a retired couple from Segrià, cancelling a debt exceeding one million euros.

Generic image of a judge's gavel on legal documents.
IA

Generic image of a judge's gavel on legal documents.

A retired couple from Segrià has been exonerated from paying a debt of over one million euros thanks to the Second Chance Law, as ruled by the Commercial Court 1 of Lleida.

The head of Commercial Court 1 of Lleida has granted the Second Chance procedure to a retired couple from Lleida, releasing them from the obligation to pay a debt exceeding 1,021,006.97 euros. This law allows for the cancellation of debts to creditors provided the debtor has acted in good faith, attempted to meet payments, and has not committed crimes against property.
The couple, residing in Segrià and represented by lawyer Onditz Pereira Nart, incurred this debt as guarantors for a previous company that did not belong to them. The exonerated amount is among the highest managed by the Lleida court to date.
Official figures from the General Council of the Judiciary show a significant increase in applications from individuals seeking to benefit from these procedures. In 2025, non-business natural persons' bankruptcies accounted for almost 80% of all creditor proceedings filed in Lleida, a 70% increase from the previous year, reaching 899 cases.
The Second Chance Law, reformed in September 2022 to include the exoneration of debts with Tax and Social Security authorities (with limits), has had its scope broadened by a recent interpretation from the Supreme Court. According to this, the 10,000 euro limit applies per public administration, potentially allowing for an average exoneration of up to 40,000 euros.