On this page, you will find information on the costs of court proceedings in the Czech Republic.
Family law – child custody and maintenance
There is only one type of lawyer in the Czech Republic – attorneys-at-law [advokáti]. There are no separate legal professions analogous to lawyers such as ‘barristers’ and ‘solicitors’ in the United Kingdom.
Decree of the Ministry of Justice No 177/1996 of 4 June 1996 deals with the fees and compensation paid to lawyers for the provision of legal services (lawyers’ tariff). The English translation is available on the Czech Bar Association’s website.
A lawyer’s fee can also be arranged privately between the parties involved.
Legal representation is not mandatory in most civil cases (including family and commercial cases).
Fixed costs for litigants in civil court proceedings
Act No 549/1991 on court fees (no English translation is available) regulates fees paid in civil court proceedings. The fees differ according to the type of proceedings. Fixed fees are paid in some cases; in other cases the amount of the fee is determined on a percentage basis.
In all cases, the fees must be paid in the Czech currency (CZK) and may be remitted by bank transfer to the State’s (court’s) account. Fees up to CZK 5 000 may be paid using special government stamps [státní kolek] available for purchase at post offices and certain other places.
The court is obliged to advise the person lodging an action about the specific court fee amount.
The stage of civil court proceedings where litigants become obliged to pay fixed costs
A court fee falls due when the payer becomes obliged to pay it (e.g., when an action is lodged). If the payer fails to pay a fee for the proceedings which is due, the court will request that it be paid within the time limit it prescribes to this effect. If this time-limit has expired and the payer has not paid the fee, the court will discontinue the proceedings.
Fixed costs for litigants in criminal proceedings
Criminal proceedings are always initiated ex officio (based on the prosecutor’s official duty) and the defendant only pays for the costs of legal representation (if not granted free defence or defence at a reduced rate). However, if the defendant is found guilty with final effect, he or she is required to compensate the state for the costs of the criminal proceedings in the amount set by the law.
The stage of criminal proceedings where litigants become obliged to pay fixed costs
No court fees are paid in criminal proceedings.
Fixed costs for litigants in proceedings before the Constitutional Court
No fixed court fees are set for complaints lodged with the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic [Ústavní soud České republiky], but litigants are required to be represented by a lawyer.
The stage of proceedings before the Constitutional Court where litigants become obliged to pay fixed costs
No fixed court fees are charged.
Legal representatives of the parties are not required to provide any prior information.
The rights and obligations of the parties may be arranged through an agreement between the lawyer and the lawyer’s client.
It is recommended to consult a lawyer in each individual case. Once proceedings start, the court is required to disclose the amount of the due court fees to the parties.
The only official language in the Czech Republic is Czech. Therefore, there is no legal obligation to provide information in other languages. The quality of the information thus depends on the willingness and knowledge of the person providing it.
Information on mediation can be found on the website of the Association of Mediators of the Czech Republic [Asociace mediátorů České republiky] (AMČR).
Information on registered mediators can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and/or directly by searching the List of mediators [Seznam mediátorů] database.
No official website providing cost information is available.
The website of the Ministry of Justice contains statistics on the activities of courts and prosecutor’s offices.
The costs one has to pay depend on the circumstances of each individual case. Average aggregate costs of court proceedings are not available.
Court fees are exempted from VAT and their amount is final. The lawyer’s tariff is exclusive of VAT. Some law offices are VAT payers and do charge VAT (at the 21% rate). VAT and the manner in which this tax is collected is regulated by Act No 235/2004 on value added tax.
The standard rate is 21%, the reduced rate is 15%.
Legal aid
Income ceilings applicable in the area of civil proceedings
No specific income ceilings apply. The qualification criteria for the provision of free legal aid include not only the person’s income, but also the overall financial situation of his or her household. Where the protection of a party’s interests so requires (i.e., especially in substantively or procedurally complicated proceedings) or where the parties must mandatorily be represented by a lawyer in the given type of proceedings and, at the same time, the party’s circumstances justify such a procedure, the court will appoint an attorney-at-law as the party’s lawyer. The party’s obligation to reimburse the lawyer, as well as to pay court fees, is then waived by the court.
Free legal aid is also provided by the Czech Bar Association [Česká advokátní komora] and specialised non-governmental organisations (depending on the subject of the proceedings).
No specific income ceilings apply. The court will appoint a defence lawyer for the accused person in all cases where legal representation is mandatory and the accused does not have a lawyer.
If the accused person documents that he or she cannot afford the costs of defence, the court will decide that he or she is entitled to free legal defence or defence at a reduced rate.
Income ceilings applicable to victims (aggrieved parties) in criminal proceedings
Aggrieved parties aged under 18 are entitled to be represented by an attorney free of charge in criminal proceedings unless the proceedings concern the crime of neglecting the duty to maintain and support [zanedbání povinné výživy].
Aggrieved parties who fall within one of the following categories are also entitled to free legal representation by an attorney:
persons who prove that they cannot afford the costs of legal representation. These persons are entitled to choose their attorney themselves; if they fail to do so, the relevant law enforcement body will appoint an attorney for them.
Where the aggrieved party is also an especially vulnerable victim, he or she additionally receives limited legal aid under the Victims of Crime Act. This form of legal aid is provided by lawyers (attorneys-at-law) who volunteer to provide a certain amount of free legal aid to such victims and are registered in a special register maintained by the Ministry of Justice.
Non-governmental non-profit organisations which have met the set conditions and have obtained accreditation from the Ministry of Justice, as well as the Probation and Mediation Service [Probační a mediační služba], may provide legal information to victims of crime (especially information on their rights under the Victims of Crime Act and the rights of the aggrieved parties in criminal proceedings). However, this legal information does not directly constitute legal aid.
The same information applies in this regard as indicated above regarding income ceilings with respect to legal aid for the accused persons in criminal proceedings.
Complaints lodged with the Constitutional Court are not subject to any court fees. Likewise, court fees are not charged in some types of proceedings (specified in § Section 11 of Act No 549/1991 on court fees), for instance in cases where the plaintiff is a minor and in some other cases (e.g. in cases where the state or its bodies are one of the parties to the proceedings, where the case concerns an asylum application filed by a foreign national, and in cases where a party to the proceedings is a ‘person in a weaker position’).
This depends, in each specific case, on the judge’s discretion (as described in the final decision of the judge); the court may order the unsuccessful party to pay the costs in full or in part. This, however, does not apply to divorce proceedings. The decision on costs may often also cover the costs of legal representation.
Expert fees and costs
The court pays a fee to the experts it appoints. The parties to a dispute are required to bear the costs of expert fees only in cases where they themselves request the expert’s services. In some special cases, the court may order the unsuccessful party to pay the expert’s fees.
The court is required to pay the fees charged by translators and interpreters; where a party is a foreign national who does not understand Czech, they may address the court in their native language.
Report of the Czech Republic concerning the Study on the Transparency of Costs (703 Kb)
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
In this case study on family law – divorce, the Member States were asked to advise the party that files for divorce on litigation costs in the following situations:
Case A – National situation: a couple gets married. Later they separate and agree to a divorce.
Case B – Transnational situation: two nationals from the same Member State (Member State A) get married. The marriage is celebrated in Member State A. After the wedding, the couple moves to live and work in another Member State (Member State B) where they establish their residence. Shortly thereafter the couple separates with the wife returning to Member State A and the husband remaining in Member State B. The couple agrees to a divorce. Upon her return to Member State A, the wife immediately files for a divorce before the courts of Member State B.
Case study | First-instance court proceedings | Appellate proceedings | Alternative dispute resolution | |||||
Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Is this option open for this type of case? | Costs | |
Case A | CZK 2 000 | Not applicable (N/A) | N/A | CZK 2 000 | N/A | N/A | Yes (optional) | Contractual (CZK 400 for each, even incomplete, hour in the case of a court-mandated introductory meeting with a mediator) |
Case B | CZK 2 000 | N/A | N/A | CZK 2 000 | N/A | N/A | Yes (optional) | Contractual (CZK 400 for each, even incomplete, hour in the case of a court-mandated introductory meeting with a mediator) |
Case study | Legal representation | Licenced enforcement agent | Expert | ||||
Is representation compulsory? | Average cost | Is use compulsory? | Pre-judgment costs | Post-judgment costs | Is use of an expert compulsory? | Costs | |
Case A | No. | Contractual, CZK 1 500 per task according to the lawyer’s tariff | No | - | - | No. | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case B | No. | Contractual | No (depends on the other country involved in the case) | - | - | No. | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case study | Witness compensation | Deposit or security | Other costs | |||
Are witnesses compensated? | Costs | Does this exist and when and how is it used? | Costs | Description | Costs | |
Case A | Yes. Actual costs are paid. | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | No. | - | - | - |
Case B | Yes. Actual costs are paid. | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | No. | - | - | - |
Case study | Legal aid | Reimbursement | |||||
When and under what conditions is it applicable? | When is full legal aid given? | Conditions? | Can the winning party obtain reimbursement of litigation costs? | If reimbursement is not comprehensive, what is the usual percentage of the costs covered? | What costs are never reimbursed? | Are there instances when legal aid should be reimbursed to the legal aid organisation? | |
Case A | Only NGOs | - | - | Usually not. However, the court may grant the reimbursement of costs if justified by the circumstances. | - | Depends on the court’s decision, usually none. | No. |
Case B | See the Directive concerning application of legal aid in cross-border disputes | - | - | Usually not. However, the court may grant the reimbursement of costs if justified by the circumstances. | - | Depends on the court’s decision, usually none. | No. |
Case study | Translation | Interpreting | Other costs specific to cross-border disputes? | |||
When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | Description | Approximate costs? | |
Case A | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | - | - | - | |
Case B | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | In cases where a party or a witness is a foreign national or does not understand Czech | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour | - | - |
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
In this case study on family law – custody of the children, Member States were asked to advise the suing party on litigation costs in the following situations:
Case A – National situation: two persons have lived together unmarried for a number of years. They have a three-year-old child when they separate. A court decision grants custody of the child to the mother and a right of access to the father. The mother sues to limit the father’s right of access.
Case B – Transnational situation where you are a lawyer in Member State A: Two persons have lived together unmarried in a Member State (Member State B) for a number of years. They have a child together but separate immediately after the child’s birth. A court decision in Member State B gives the child’s custody to the mother with a right of access to the father. The mother and the child move to live in another Member State (Member State A) as authorised to do so by the Court decision and the father remains in Member State B. A few years later, the mother sues in Member State A to change the father’s right of access.
Case study | First-instance court proceedings | Appellate proceedings | Alternative dispute resolution | |||||
Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Can this be used in this specific case? | Costs | |
Case A | CZK 0 | Not applicable (N/A) | N/A | CZK 0 | N/A | N/A | Yes | Contractual (CZK 400 for each, even incomplete, hour in the case of a court-mandated introductory meeting with a mediator) |
Case B | CZK 0 | Not applicable (N/A) | N/A | CZK 0 | N/A | N/A | Yes | Contractual (CZK 400 for each, even incomplete, hour in the case of a court-mandated introductory meeting with a mediator) |
Case study | Legal representation | Licenced enforcement agent | Expert | ||||
Is representation compulsory? | Average cost | Is use compulsory? | Pre-judgment costs | Post-judgment costs | Is use of an expert compulsory? | Costs | |
Case A | No | Contractual, CZK 1 000 per task according to the lawyer’s tariff | No | - | - | No | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case B | No | Contractual, CZK 1 000 per task according to the lawyer’s tariff | No (depends on the other country) | - | - | No | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case study | Witness compensation | Deposit or security | Other costs | |||
Are witnesses compensated? | Costs | Does this exist and when and how is it used? | Costs | Description | Costs | |
Case A | Yes, depending on their actual costs | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | Not in this type of proceedings | - | - | - |
Case B | Yes, depending on their actual costs | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | Not in this type of proceedings | - | - | - |
Case study | Legal aid | Reimbursement | |||||
When and under what conditions is it applicable? | When is full legal aid given? | Conditions? | Can the winning party obtain reimbursement of litigation costs? | If reimbursement is not comprehensive, what is the usual percentage of the costs covered? | What costs are never reimbursed? | Are there instances when legal aid should be reimbursed to the legal aid organisation? | |
Case A | Only NGOs | - | - | Usually not. However, the court may grant the reimbursement of costs if justified by the circumstances. | - | Depends on the court’s decision, usually none | No |
Case B | See the Directive concerning application of legal aid in cross-border disputes | - | - | Usually not. However, the court may grant the reimbursement of costs if justified by the circumstances. | - | Depends on the court’s decision, usually none | No |
Case study | Translation | Interpreting | Other costs specific to cross-border disputes? | |||
When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | Description | Approximate costs? | |
Case A | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | - | - | - | - |
Case B | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | In cases where a party or a witness is a foreign national or does not understand Czech | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour | - | - |
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
In this case study on commercial law – contracts - Member States were asked to advise the seller on litigation costs in the following situations:
Case A – National situation: A company delivered goods worth EUR 20 000. The seller has not been paid because the buyer considers that the goods do not conform to what was agreed.
The seller decides to sue to obtain the full payment of the price.
Case B – Transnational situation: A company whose head office is located in Member State B delivers goods worth 20 000 euro to buyer in Member State A. The contract is subject to Member State B’s law and written in Member State B’s language. This seller has not been paid because the buyer located in Member State A considers that the goods do not conform to what was agreed. The seller decides to sue in Member State A to obtain full payment of the price as provided for under the contract with the buyer.
Case study | First-instance court proceedings | Appellate proceedings | Alternative dispute resolution | |||||
Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Can this be used in this specific case? | Costs | |
Case A | 5% of the amount (with subject of the proceedings under CZK 40 million) | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | 5% of the amount | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | Yes (e.g., arbitration proceedings or mediation) | Contractual |
Case B | 5% of the amount (with subject of the proceedings under CZK 40 million) | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | 5% of the amount | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | Yes (e.g., arbitration proceedings or mediation) | Contractual |
Case study | Legal representation | Licenced enforcement agent | Expert | ||||
Is representation compulsory? | Average cost | Is use compulsory? | Pre-judgment costs | Post-judgment costs | Is use of an expert compulsory? | Costs | |
Case A | No. | Contractual | No. | - | - | No. | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case B | No. | Contractual | No. | - | - | No. | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case study | Witness compensation | Deposit or security | Other costs | |||
Are witnesses compensated? | Costs | Does this exist and when and how is it used? | Costs | Description | Costs | |
Case A | Yes. Actual costs are paid. | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | In commercial cases, if preliminary injunction is requested. | CZK 50 000. | - | - |
Case B | Yes. Actual costs are paid. | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | In commercial cases. if preliminary injunction is requested. | CZK 50 000. | - | - |
Case study | Legal aid | Reimbursement | |||||
When and under what conditions is it applicable? | When is full legal aid given? | Conditions? | Can the winning party obtain reimbursement of litigation costs? | If reimbursement is not comprehensive, what is the usual percentage of the costs covered? | What costs are never reimbursed? | Are there instances when legal aid should be reimbursed to the legal aid organisation? | |
Case A | Very rarely in commercial cases. | - | - | Yes. | Depends on the circumstances of the case. | Compensation of all costs may be ordered. | No. |
Case B | See the Directive concerning application of legal aid in cross-border disputes | - | - | Yes. | Depends on the circumstances of the case. | Compensation of all costs may be ordered. | No. |
Case study | Translation | Interpreting | ||
When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | |
Case A | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | - | - |
Case B | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | In cases where a party or a witness is a foreign national or does not understand Czech | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
In this case study on commercial law – liability, Member States were asked to advise the customer on litigation costs in the following situations:
Case A – National situation: A manufacturer of heating equipment delivers a boiler to an installer. The installer sells the boiler to a customer and installs it in the customer’s house. The house catches fire shortly thereafter. Every participant (heating equipment manufacturer, installer, end-customer) is insured. The origin of the fire is contested. Nobody wants to compensate the customer.
The customer decides to sue for full compensation the heating equipment manufacturer, the heating equipment installer and the insurance companies.
Case B – Transnational situation: A heating equipment manufacturer in Member State B delivers a boiler to an installer in Member State C. The installer sells the boiler on to a customer in Member State A and installs it in his/her house. The house catches fire shortly thereafter. Each one of the parties involved (manufacturer of heating equipment, installer, end-customer) is insured by an insurance company in that party’s own Member State. The origin of the fire is contested. Nobody wants to compensate the customer.
The customer decides to sue the heating equipment manufacturer, the heating equipment installer and the insurance company in Member State A for full compensation in Member State A.
Case study | First-instance court proceedings | Appellate proceedings | Alternative dispute resolution | |||||
Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Initial court fees | Transcription fees | Other fees | Can this be used in this specific case? | Costs | |
Case A | 5% of the amount (insurance claimed) | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | 5% of the amount | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | Yes (optional) | Contractual (usually CZK 1 000 per hour; 3 hours) |
Case B | 5% of the amount (insurance claimed) | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | 5% of the amount | Not applicable (N/A) | No. | Yes (optional) | Contractual |
Case study | Legal representation | Licenced enforcement agent | Expert | ||||
Is representation compulsory? | Average cost | Is use compulsory? | Pre-judgment costs | Post-judgment costs | Is use of an expert compulsory? | Costs | |
Case A | No. | Contractual | No. | - | - | No. | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case B | No. | Contractual | No. | - | - | No. | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
Case study | Witness compensation | Deposit or security | Other costs | |||
Are witnesses compensated? | Costs | Does this exist and when and how is it used? | Costs | Description | Costs | |
Case A | Yes. Actual costs are paid. | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | If a preliminary injunction is requested. | CZK 10 000. | Cost of evidence | Differ according to the circumstances of the case |
Case B | Yes. Actual costs are paid. | Differ according to the circumstances of the case | If a preliminary injunction is requested | CZK 10 000. | Cost of evidence | Differ according to the circumstances of the case |
Case study | Legal aid | Reimbursement | |||||
When and under what conditions is it applicable? | When is full legal aid given? | Conditions? | Can the winning party obtain reimbursement of litigation costs? | If reimbursement is not comprehensive, what is the usual percentage of the costs covered? | What costs are never reimbursed? | Are there instances when legal aid should be reimbursed to the legal aid organisation? | |
Case A | Consumer protection centres, other NGOs | If necessary to protect the interests of a party, the court will appoint a lawyer. | The party’s application, their assets and the complexity of the dispute. | Yes. | Depends on the circumstances of the case. | Compensation of all costs may be ordered. | No. |
Case B | See the Directive concerning legal aid in cross-border disputes or the European Consumer Centre. | If necessary to protect the interests of a party, the court will appoint a lawyer. | The party’s application, their assets and the complexity of the dispute. | Yes. | Depends on the circumstances of the case. | Compensation of all costs may be ordered. | No. |
Case study | Translation | Interpreting | ||
When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | When and under what conditions is it necessary? | Approximate costs? | |
Case A | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | - | - |
Case B | Original documents in a foreign language necessary for the proceedings | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per page | In cases where a party or a witness is a foreign national or does not understand Czech | CZK 100 to CZK 350 per hour |
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.