Online processing of cases and e-communication with courts

1 Is it possible to initiate court proceedings via the internet?

It is not possible.

Applications, defences, legal remedies and other statements, suggestions and announcements outside the hearing are submitted in writing (submissions). The party, i.e. their legal representative, sign submissions at the end.

2 If so, for what types of cases is it available? Are any proceedings available exclusively via the internet?

Not applicable.

3 Is the facility available at all times (i.e. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or just during specific hours? If so, what are those hours?

Not applicable.

4 Should the details of the claim be provided in any particular format?

Not applicable.

5 How is transmission and storage of data secured?

Not applicable.

6 Is it necessary to use any kind of electronic signature and/or time record?

Not applicable.

7 Are court fees payable? If so, how can they be paid and are they different to those for non-electronic procedures?

Not applicable.

8 Is it possible to withdraw a claim that has been initiated via the internet?

Not applicable.

9 If the claimant initiates proceedings via the internet is it possible and/or compulsory for the defendant to respond using the internet as well?

Not applicable.

10 In terms of the electronic procedure what happens if the defendant responds to the claim?

Not applicable.

11 In terms of the electronic procedure what happens if the defendant does not respond to a claim?

Not applicable.

12 Is it possible to submit documents to a court electronically and if so in what type of proceedings and under what conditions is it possible?

The Civil Procedure Act (Zakon o parničnom postupku) (Narodne Novine (NN; Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia) Nos 53/91, 91/92, 112/99, 129/00, 88/01, 117/03, 88/05, 2/07, 84/08, 96/08, 123/08, 57/11, 25/13, 89/14 and 70/19) provides for the possibility of submitting documents electronically via an IT system. Electronically submitted documents must be signed using a qualified electronic signature in accordance with special legislation. However, government bodies, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, lawyers, notaries, court experts, court assessors, court interpreters, insolvency administrators, court commissioners and legal entities must always submit documents electronically.

13 Can judicial documents, and particularly judgments, be served via the internet?

An electronic noticeboard (e-Oglasna ploča) service has been developed and implemented, which makes it possible to serve judicial documents to participants of court proceedings via the notice board by using IT solutions.

The e-Noticeboard publishes judgments in accordance with the conditions of Article 335 of the Civil Procedure Act (Zakon o parničnom postupku) (Narodne Novine (NN; Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia), Nos 53/91, 91/92, 112/99, 129/00, 88/01, 117/03, 88/05, 2/07, 96/08, 84/08, 96/08, 123/08, 57/11, 25/13, 89/14 and 70/19) and all documents pursuant to Article 8 of the Enforcement Act (Ovršni zakon) (Narodne Novine (NN; Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia), Nos 112/12, 25/13, 93/14, 55/16 and 73/17).

Additionally, the e-Noticeboard publishes all documents that are published under the procedural rules on the court notice board.

14 Can judicial decisions be given electronically?

It is not possible.

15 Can an appeal be made and its decision served via the internet?

It is not possible to make an appeal via the internet, and the party can be informed of its decision via the e-Noticeboard if the legally required conditions have been fulfilled.

16 Is it possible to initiate enforcement proceedings via the internet?

It is not possible.

17 Can the parties or their legal representatives consult on-line cases? If so, how this can be done?

Not applicable.