How to buy a tax stamp to initiate civil proceedings or appeal a civil decision?

Verified 01 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

For initiate certain civil proceedings or in connection with proceedings in appeal of a civil decision, you need to buy a fiscal stamp. It is sold only in electronic form.

Initiation of the procedure

In some civil proceedings, the purchase of a dematerialized tax stamp is mandatory.

It must be purchased by the party initiating the procedure or by sound lawyer before going to court.

The tax stamp costs €50.

This electronic tax stamp can be purchased online only. Payment is made by credit card.

Purchase an electronic tax stamp to initiate civil legal proceedings

The electronic stamp can be issued on 2 supports:

  • PDF document with a 2D code that can also be scanned directly from a phone or tablet by the service responsible for receiving your request
  • SMS containing the 16-digit identifier of the stamp that will be accepted by the agent responsible for processing your file.

There is no need to purchase the dematerialized tax stamp in the following cases:

  • Beneficiary of legal aid
  • Proceedings before the Civi
  • Proceedings before the Juvenile Judge
  • Proceedings before the Judge of Liberties and Detention
  • Proceedings before the court for psychiatric care without consent, restraints, placement and solitary confinement
  • Proceedings before the guardianship judge
  • Over-indebtedness and judicial recovery and liquidation procedures
  • Protection order in the event of domestic violence against an adult or minor children
  • Protection order in case of forced marriage of an adult
  • Complaint procedure concerning the registration, deletion or omission of an elector from the list of electors
  • Procedure order for payment and that concerning the opposition an order for payment
  • Procedure of approval of parental agreement

The stamp is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

If you haven't used it, you can claim the refund during 18 months from the date of purchase.

The request is made online:

Request a refund of an electronic stamp

Once your refund request is registered, the corresponding amount will be credited to your bank account within a few days.

Call

If you want to appeal (caller) of a civil decision for which representation by lawyer is mandatory, you must buy a paperless tax stamp.

The opposing party (respondent) will also have to pay this tax stamp.

The stamp costs €225. It is not due by the beneficiary party legal aid.

This electronic tax stamp can be purchased online only. Payment is made by credit card.

Buy an electronic tax stamp to appeal a court decision

The electronic stamp can be issued on 2 supports:

  • PDF document with a 2D code that can also be scanned directly from a phone or tablet by the service responsible for receiving your request
  • SMS containing the 16-digit identifier of the stamp that will be accepted by the agent responsible for processing your file.

The stamp is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

If you haven't used it, you can claim the refund during 18 months from the date of purchase.

The request is made online:

Request a refund of an electronic stamp

Once your refund request is registered, the corresponding amount will be credited to your bank account within a few days.