How to rectify a clerical error in a decision of the administrative judge?

Verified 21 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Do you consider that the administrative judge's decision contains a clerical error that had an influence on the judgment of the case? You can file a claim for correction of a material error. We present you the information to know.

It must be a mistake hardware. It must result from an unintentional act of the judge.

The error invoked cannot not directly related to legal analysis developed by the judge.

This may be, for example, one of the following hardware errors :

  • Error on the identity of a part
  • Error on the date of lodging the appeal
  • Error in the calculation of compensation
  • Failure to take account of a memory yet recorded during the instruction
  • Non-transmission of a query
  • Failure to give notice of withdrawal
  • Failure to respond to a medium
  • No response to conclusions of a part.

The material error must have influenced the judgment of the case. For example, the judge made an error in calculating compensation by omitting a sum of money, thus distorting the amount owed to you.

You can file a claim for correction of material error for a final decision by a administrative court of appeal or the Council of State.

An action for correction of a clerical error is also open against final decisions by the specialized administrative courts or the Conflict Tribunal.

Warning  

Decisions for which it is possible to appeal may not be the subject of an action for correction of a clerical error.

To file a claim for correction of a material error, you must complete the 3 conditions following :

  • The error must be material, that is to say that excludes legal error
  • The error has has an influence on the outcome of the dispute
  • The error does not comes from no mistake on your part.

Please note

An action for correction of a clerical error shall be brought before the court which delivered the contested judgment.

The time limit for filing an appeal for correction of a material error varies depending on your place of residence :

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You live in metropolitan France

The deadline is 2 months from the notification the decision whose correction is requested.

You live overseas

The deadline is 3 months from the notification the decision whose correction is requested.

You reside abroad

The deadline is 4 months from the notification the decision whose correction is requested.

If during the query initially, you didn't have to take a lawyer, you are no need to hire a lawyer to file an appeal for correction of a material error.

Otherwise, you you have to get a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

Depending on your income and the value of your assets, you can apply for legal aid.

Recourse for correction of material error is made from the same as in the first trial (deposit of the query, communication of the request and of briefs, closure of the instruction, holding of the hearing, decision, notification).

Reminder

An action for correction of a clerical error shall be brought before the court which delivered the contested judgment.

Depending on your situation, the judge amends the part of the decision which is affected by the error without reverting to the elements of the initial decision not affected by the error or, in the case where the error entirely affects the decision, completely reconsider the case.

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