Civil law
Court representation
Act No. 99/1963 Coll. (Code of Civil Procedure)
Civil procedure is a game of concentration: what is not raised in time the court will not hear, even if it is true. Cases are won by preparation, not eloquence in the courtroom.
What the law says
The claim is filed at the competent court with a fee (for monetary claims usually 5 % of the principal). Concentration applies: assertions and evidence must be presented by the end of the preparatory or first hearing — later the court may refuse them.
Instances: the district court, appeal to the regional court; an extraordinary appeal to the Supreme Court is a narrow remedy with mandatory attorney representation. Costs follow success (§ 142): the loser reimburses the winner’s fee and representation under the tariff.
How the work runs
Before the claim — a written assessment: evidence, limitation, the opponent’s solvency, the budget and a realistic outcome. Litigating is not always worth it, and that decision is yours, made over numbers rather than emotions.
In the proceedings I run everything: the claim with the evidence laid out, statements, hearings, expert work, the appeal. After every step you get a short report: what happened, what it means, what comes next.
Deadlines and pitfalls
The costliest self-representation mistake is “saving a trump card”: after concentration it no longer plays. The second is rejecting a reasonable settlement — a deal today often beats a judgment in two years, and I say so plainly when I see it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an attorney in a Czech civil court?
Not in the first and appellate instances — you may represent yourself. An attorney is mandatory for the extraordinary appeal to the Supreme Court. The practical answer differs: concentration of proceedings punishes inexperience immediately and permanently.
How long does a civil case take?
First instance in Prague usually runs six months to a year and a half, depending on the evidence and the judge’s docket; an appeal adds months. Undisputed monetary claims are faster via the payment order. A realistic forecast comes after reading the papers.
What is a preliminary injunction?
An urgent measure before the merits: freezing assets, banning dispositions, ordering conduct. The court decides within days; a security deposit applies (CZK 10,000, in business matters 50,000).
If I lose — what do I pay?
Your fee and attorney plus the winner’s costs under the attorney tariff. That risk is calculated up front: the written assessment shows both the odds and the price of defeat.
Does the loser reimburse my costs in full?
Under the tariff, not the actual invoice — a gap exists, especially in complex cases. I budget that delta honestly, before the claim is filed.
Contact
- Address
- Konviktská 291/24, Staré Město, 110 00 Praha 12 minutes' walk from Národní třída (metro B, trams)
- Phone
- +420 700 000 000
- kancelar@advokatpopov.cz
- Data box
- [data box ID]
- Consultations
- Mon–Fri 9.00–18.00in person, online or by phone — by appointment