Zaragoza Court Overturns Lower Ruling, Cancels €89,000 Debt for Aragon Worker

J.A.G.H., a 56‑year‑old public‑sector employee from Aragon, filed for a "concurso sin masa" in 2024, seeking an exoneration of unpaid liabilities (EPI). His total unsecured debt amounted to roughly €89,000 spread across eight banks, while his mortgage had already been settled by his spouse.

A lower commercial court denied the request, finding the information on the origin of the debt too generic and questioning the justification for some credits. The worker appealed to Section 5 of the Audiencia Provincial de Zaragoza. In judgment 000487/2026, dated 1 July 2026, the Provincial Court completely reversed the earlier decision and granted full exoneration of the €89,000 debt.

The court based its ruling on four key points: the 2022 reform presumes the debtor’s good‑faith, shifting the burden of proof to creditors; denial of EPI requires evidence of intentional or grave negligence, not mere mild imprudence; financial institutions must assess a client’s solvency before granting credit; and the judgment reinforces the standard for applying the Second‑Chance Law beyond this single case.