Cost of a court case

Procedural costs (costs)

The costs are as follows:

• Fees, charges, fees and emoluments due to the Registry (e.g. issuance of copies of judgments)
• Tax taxes (such as paying the tax stamp in the amount of €50)
• Costs of translating a document (e.g. marriage contract) when it is mandatory
• Witness attendance allowances (travel, subsistence, etc.)
• Remuneration of technicians appointed by the judge (e.g. an expert)
• Remuneration of public and ministerial officers (for example, the remuneration of judicial commissioners when they signify an act)
• Remuneration of lawyers when regulated (e.g. right to plead, the formalities carried out during a foreclosure)
• Costs incurred by the notification of an act abroad
• Costs incurred by a social survey during a procedure on parental authority, of adoption or before the protection litigation judge
• Remuneration of the person designated to hear a minor in connection with a emancipation procedure
• Remuneration and expenses specific to measures, investigations and examinations required in the context of a travel procedure unlawful of a child abroad.

Irreproducible charges

Irreproducible costs are those that are not included in the costs. These include the following:

• Fees of the lawyer (they are freely fixed and specified in a fee agreement)
• Travel, Accommodation Expenses Parties must attend the hearing
• Remuneration of consultants or experts not appointed by the judge.

These fees are normally advanced by each party to the trial.

Coverage of the costs of the trial

Payment of costs

The sums constituting the costs shall be advanced by each party to the proceedings.

However, when making his decision, the judge shall specify the part who must ultimately pay the costs.

In principle, the costs must be paid by the party who lost the case.

As an exception, the judge may order by reasoned decision that:

• The sum is shared between the parties to the trial
• Or that it be charged to one of the parties.

Settlement of irreversible costs

Reimbursement of irreversible costs may be requested from the opposing party.

In order to obtain a refund, the party that advanced the costs (or its lawyer) must make a written request (for example, in its assignment).

They must also provide all the documents necessary to justify their request (quotes, invoices, etc.).

At the end of the trial, the judge may order that the party ordered to pay all or part of the costs (or who lost the trial) also be required to pay the irreversible costs.

In making his decision, the judge must take into account the economic situation of the party who lost the case.

It is not obliged to order it to pay the irreversible costs advanced by the opposing party.

Procedural costs (costs)

The costs are as follows:

• Fees, charges, fees and emoluments due to the Registry (registration of a businessissuance of copies of judgements, etc.)
• Tax taxes (such as paying a tax stamp)
• Costs of translating an act (for example, an act amending the statutes of a business) where it is compulsory
• Witness allowances (e.g. travel, accommodation to attend the hearing)
• Remuneration of technicians appointed by the judge (e.g. an expert)
• Remuneration of public and ministerial officers (for example, the remuneration of commissioners of justice when they signify a judgment)
• Remuneration of lawyers when regulated (e.g. right to plead, the formalities carried out during a foreclosure)
• Costs incurred by the notification of an act abroad

Irreproducible charges

Irreproducible costs are those that are not included in the costs. These include the following:

• Fees of the lawyer (they are freely fixed and specified in a fee agreement)
• Travel, Accommodation Expenses Parties must attend the hearing
• Remuneration of consultants or experts not appointed by the judge.

These fees are normally advanced by each party to the trial.

Coverage of the costs of the trial

Payment of costs

The sums constituting the costs shall be advanced by each party to the proceedings.

However, when making his decision, the judge shall specify the part who must ultimately pay the costs.

In principle, the costs must be paid by the party who lost the case.

As an exception, the judge may order by reasoned decision that:

• The sum is shared between the parties to the trial
• Or that it be charged to one of the parties.

Settlement of irreversible costs

Reimbursement of irreversible costs may be requested from the part adverse.

In order to obtain a refund, the party that advanced the costs (or its lawyer) must make a written request (for example, in its assignment).

They must also provide all the documents necessary to justify their request (quotes, invoices, etc.).

At the end of the trial, the judge may order that the party ordered to pay all or part of the costs is also obliged to pay the irreversible costs.

In making his decision, the judge must take into account the economic situation of the party who lost the case.

It is not obliged to order it to pay the irreversible costs advanced by the opposing party.

Costs corresponding to the fixed procedural fee

The amount of the fixed procedural fee varies according to the type of decision rendered and of the competent court:

• €62 for decisions rendered by the police court
• €62 for the criminal orders rendered by the correctional court
• €254 for other decisions of the correctional court
• €1,054 for decisions rendered by the court of assizes
• €338 for decisions rendered by the court of appeal in matters criminal, correctional or contravention
• €422 for decisions rendered by the court of cassation in criminal, correctional or ticketing matters

In the case of driving under the influence of drugs, these fixed procedural fees are increased by €210.

Criminal, Correctional and Policing Costs

Criminal, correctional and police costs include:

• Translation fees charged by the national police or gendarmerie
• Extradition costs
• Fees and allowances granted to experts, of social surveys, to commissioners of justiceetc.
• Travel and subsistence allowances for witnesses, jurors and to the civil parties
• Costs of sequestration, seizure, custody, and destruction of sealed
• If the convicted person has not paid them, the costs of abduction and impoundment of his vehicle subject to immobilization ordered by the judicial authority
• Printing costs of court decisions
• Costs related to a geolocation measure
• Costs related to wiretapping.

Expenses incurred as of 21 february 2026 must be settled by the sentenced person, unless the State decides to pay for them in whole or in part.

Where more than one person is convicted for the same offense infringement, they are divided into as many equal parts that there are convicts and everyone must pay their share.

Irreproducible charges

Irreproducible costs include:

• Fees of the lawyer (they are freely fixed and specified in a fee agreement)
• Travel expenses, accommodation if parties must appear at the hearing
• Remuneration of consultants or experts not appointed by the judge.

These costs are generally advanced by the parties to the trial.

However, the author of the offense may be ordered to reimburse the civil party the costs that she advanced.

To obtain a refund, the civil party must apply to the registry of the criminal jurisdiction and provide any documents (e.g. quotes, invoices) that could justify the amount of these fees.

The amount to be paid shall be determined by the judge in accordance with the economic situation of the sentenced person.

The judge is not obliged to order the offender to pay the irreversible costs.

Costs of the trial

Costs

In administrative matters, costs include the costs of an expert opinion, an investigation and any other investigative measure (e.g. a visit to a public establishment) where they are not borne by the State.

Irreproducible charges

Irreproducible costs are those that are not included in the costs. These include the following:

• Fees of the lawyer (they are freely fixed and specified in a fee agreement)
• Travel, Accommodation Expenses Parties must attend the hearing
• Remuneration of consultants or experts not appointed by the judge.

These fees are normally advanced by each party to the trial.

Coverage of the costs of the trial

Payment of costs

Costs shall be paid by the part who loses the trial.

However, if the circumstances of the case so warrant, they may be taken over by another party or shared between the parties to the trial.

Settlement of irreversible costs

Reimbursement of irreversible costs may be requested from the opposing party.

To get a refund, each part (or its lawyer) must make a written and reasoned request for reimbursement.

They must also attach all documents justifying the amount of the costs they have advanced (e.g. quote, invoice, etc.).

At the end of the trial, the judge may order that the party ordered to pay all or part of the costs is also obliged to pay the irreversible costs.

In making his decision, the judge must take into account the economic situation of the party who lost the case.

It is not obliged to order it to pay the irreversible costs advanced by the opposing party.