There are multiple platforms providing online services for citizens in Poland and an overarching online platform exists to integrate them. It is intended to merge online websites of ministries and governmental agencies and to integrate digital services provided to citizens by the State. The platform provides digital services already via sub-platforms: obywatel.gov.pl (services for individuals) and biznes.gov.pl (services for businesses).
In general, digital services are at very different levels of development. For instance, services provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration via gov.pl or obywatel.gov.pl are relatively well developed, whereas more complex services such as those related to judiciary cover only the small part of the sector.
The possibility to file an application online for legal aid is limited to fully digitalized court procedures, like national payment order procedure (order of injunction).
Compensation does not exist as a separate procedure.
Purpose and scope: civil cases can be initiated online only:
- within a procedure called “electronic procedure by writ of payment”. It can be initiated in cases concerning pecuniary claims, irrespective of the total amount of the dispute, in the e-Sąd (e-Court) online system or
- Insolvency proceedings - through the KRZ information system.
Competent authority:
- Electronic writ proceedings are serviced by the 6th Civil Division of the Lublin-West District Regional Court in Lublin
- 30 specialized insolvency sections in regional (1st tier) courts
Conditions of access:
- A person initiating a case requires an account in the e-Sąd system. The court then needs to confirm his/her identity based on the PESEL database. The account can later be used as an electronic signature in this system only (it is not a qualified electronic signature). Qualified electronic signature can also be used.
- The insolvency proceeding is initiated via an online form at National Register of Debtors. This requires creating an account using Profil Zaufany (Trusted Profile) or electronic qualified signature.
Legal effects of electronic document:
- The case can be initiated online, and judicial decisions are electronic. In electronic writ of payment proceedings a respondent cannot reply to the statement of claim. The only form of appeal against an order for payment is to fill in a statement of opposition (in a traditional or electronic form). In that case, the order for payment loses its force and has no legal effect. The matter is referred from the e-court to the court in the territorial jurisdiction in which the respondent is domiciled and is heard in other proceedings.
- The insolvency proceeding can only be initiated online.
Possibility to complete the procedure fully online: Yes
Cost:
- In electronic writ proceedings the fee varies, but the cost of issuing an online case is ¼ of the fee payable in a traditional procedure, however no less thana 30 PLN
- The insolvency proceeding: 30 PLN
Link:
In Poland, electronic service of judicial documents in civil matters is done through so called Information Portal of the Common Courts. It covers only professional lawyers. Recent legislative changes will make it also possible in criminal matters from March 2024. For the time being sending documents is possible only one-sidedly, from courts to addressees.
Judicial auctions are not carried out online. Only auction notices are published on the website of the National Bailiffs’ Council (as a statutory obligation) and customarily on the website of a bailiff conducting the auction in question.
The Polish Ministry of Justice is working on a project entitled the "Dissemination of alternative dispute resolution methods by increasing the competences of mediators, establishing the National Register of Mediators and information activities".
It foresees legislative changes, as well as information and promotion activities in the field of mediation and mediation trainings. It also foresees setting up a National Register of Mediators (NRM) to make it easier for interested parties to find a mediator who specializes in a specific category of cases. An act of entering a mediator into the register will be a confirmation that the mediator has qualifications authorizing him to conduct mediation in certain type(s) of cases. It also aims to improve communication between mediators and the courts (judges). It will be a public register, transparent, operating as part of the IT system for citizens and justice staff in Poland. The NRM is expected to be completed probably by the end of October 2023.
Link: https://krm.gov.pl
For the time being there are no full digital services related to mediation provided by the state/judiciary, however independent mediation centres can provide e-mediation services. For instance, e-mediation is provided by Mediation Centre of the Polish Bar Council.
Purpose and scope: Individual entrepreneurs (self-employed) can register online in the Central Register and Information on Economic Activity. Through this registration an entrepreneur will be provided with a NIP (tax) number and REGON (companies register) number.
Competent authority: Central Register and Information on Economic Activity / Ministry of Development and Technology
Conditions of access: No conditions
Legal effects of electronic document: The individual entrepreneur is considered registered one day after the online registration.
Possibility to complete the procedure fully online: yes
Cost: free of charge
Link: https://www.biznes.gov.pl/pl/opisy-procedur/-/proc/736
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Purpose and scope: Companies, i.e. general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, can be registered online through https://prs.ms.gov.pl/krs
Competent authority: Ministry of Justice (for the IT system), courts (for the registration process)
Conditions of access: account in IT system (KRS)
Legal effects of electronic document: The company can be registered online.
Possibility to complete the procedure fully online: yes
Cost: 250-500 PLN (cost of registration), 100 PLN (publication in Monitor Sądowy i Gospodarczy)
Apart from public documents, the translation of digital services do not seem to be available.