Court Costs in the Czech Republic: General Rules and Family Law Proceedings

What costs may arise in Czech court proceedings?

The total cost of proceedings may include:

• court fees;
• your own lawyer’s fees;
• the opposing party’s recoverable legal costs;
• expert and witness costs;
• translation and interpretation costs;
• travel, service and evidence-related expenses;
• costs of an appeal or subsequent enforcement.

For international clients, translations, service abroad and cross-border evidence can increase the overall cost.

The general rule: the unsuccessful party pays

In ordinary Czech civil litigation, the court generally orders the unsuccessful party to reimburse the successful party for the costs reasonably incurred in enforcing or defending its rights. Where each party succeeds only in part, the court will usually divide the costs proportionately or decide that neither party is entitled to reimbursement.

The court may depart from these rules in exceptional circumstances.

A successful party does not necessarily recover everything it has actually paid. In particular, the recoverable lawyer’s fee is normally calculated under the Czech Attorney’s Tariff rather than according to the fee agreed between the lawyer and the client.

Court fees in ordinary civil claims

For a standard claim seeking payment of money, the court fee is generally calculated from the amount claimed. For claims exceeding CZK 20,000 and not exceeding CZK 40 million, the fee is normally 5% of the claim. Different fixed or graduated fees apply to lower, higher and non-monetary claims.

The claimant usually pays the court fee at the beginning of the proceedings. Further costs may arise if the case requires expert evidence, translations or an appeal.

Before filing a payment claim, the defendant should generally be sent a written demand at least seven days in advance. Failure to do so may affect the claimant’s right to recover legal costs even if the claim succeeds.

How are recoverable lawyer’s fees calculated?

A Czech lawyer and client may agree on an hourly fee or another contractual method of remuneration. This agreement governs what the client pays the lawyer.

The amount recoverable from the opposing party is a separate question. It is generally calculated under the Czech Attorney’s Tariff by reference to:

• the value or type of the case;
• the number of recognised acts of legal representation;
• standard expense allowances;
• and, where applicable, VAT, travel costs and compensation for time spent travelling.

Recognised acts may include taking over the case, preparing the claim, submitting certain pleadings and attending court hearings.

As a result, even a fully successful party may have to bear the difference between the contractual legal fee and the amount awarded by the court.

Costs of divorce proceedings

Divorce proceedings are subject to a special costs regime. As a general rule, each spouse bears their own legal costs, regardless of which spouse filed the application.

Since 1 January 2026, the court fee is generally:

• CZK 2,000 for an agreed divorce; and
• CZK 5,000 for an ordinary divorce.

The court may depart from the usual costs rule where the circumstances justify it. This may be relevant, for example, in cases involving domestic violence or particularly unreasonable procedural conduct.

Where spouses have a minor child, the divorce proceedings are generally combined with proceedings concerning the child’s post-divorce arrangements unless those arrangements have already been decided at first instance. This does not, however, mean that one uniform costs rule necessarily applies to every issue considered by the court. Czech Ministry of Justice: divorce reform effective from 2026

Proceedings concerning minor children

Proceedings concerning parental care, contact and child maintenance are primarily intended to protect the child’s best interests. They are not treated as an ordinary dispute in which one parent simply wins and the other loses.

Proceedings at first instance concerning the court’s care of minors are generally exempt from court fees. Since 1 January 2026, however, a CZK 3,000 appeal fee applies in selected matters, including certain decisions concerning parental care, contact and maintenance.

As a rule, each party bears their own legal costs. The court may nevertheless award costs where the particular circumstances justify it. Costs may also be imposed where a party brings an arbitrary and manifestly unsuccessful application or unnecessarily increases the cost of the proceedings.

An outcome that differs from a parent’s proposal does not automatically make that parent the “losing party”. The court is required to decide according to the child’s best interests and is not limited in the same way as in ordinary contentious litigation. Act No. 292/2013 on Special Judicial Proceedings

Division of matrimonial property: iudicium duplex

Proceedings for the division of matrimonial property after divorce have a special character traditionally described as iudicium duplex.

This means that either former spouse may initiate the proceedings and both parties are, in substance, seeking a judicial settlement of their common property. The court is not simply deciding whether the claimant’s position is right and the defendant’s position is wrong.

If the claim itself is not dismissed, it is often impossible to identify one party as the complete winner. The usual approach is therefore that:

each former spouse bears their own legal costs and neither is required to reimburse the other.

The court may depart from this principle where special circumstances exist. Relevant factors may include:

• obstructive procedural conduct;
• an unjustified refusal to seek a constructive solution;
• abusive exercise of rights;
• unnecessary increases in the cost or duration of the proceedings;
• or success concerning a separate and clearly identifiable disputed issue.

The mere fact that one former spouse started the proceedings is not, by itself, a reason to order that spouse to pay the other party’s costs.

This approach follows the Czech Constitutional Court’s position on proceedings having the character of iudicium duplex, which also applies to the division of matrimonial property. Czech Constitutional Court, Pl. ÚS-st. 59/23

Property division proceedings can still be expensive. Court fees, property valuations, expert reports and disputes over the classification or value of assets may materially increase the overall cost.

How can the potential cost be estimated?

A realistic estimate should consider several possible outcomes rather than one fixed figure:

• the value and type of the claim;
• the applicable court fee;
• the agreed fee for your own lawyer;
• the amount potentially recoverable under the Attorney’s Tariff;
• the likely number of hearings and written submissions;
• expert, translation and travel costs;
• the possibility of an appeal;
• the degree of success or failure;
• and whether the opposing party is likely to pay an awarded amount.

In family cases, the nature of the proceedings must also be taken into account. The ordinary “loser pays” calculation is usually unsuitable for divorce, child-related proceedings and the division of matrimonial property.

Practical conclusion

The costs of Czech court proceedings can usually be estimated in advance, but the calculation must reflect the particular type of case.

In ordinary civil litigation, procedural success is generally decisive. In divorce and child-related proceedings, each party will usually bear their own costs. In matrimonial property proceedings, the nature of iudicium duplex means that there is often no clear winner or loser for costs purposes.

A cost assessment should therefore be prepared before proceedings begin and reviewed if the scope of the dispute, evidence or procedural strategy changes.

Legal advice in English

If you are considering court proceedings in the Czech Republic or are involved in a Czech divorce, child-related dispute or division of matrimonial property, an early assessment can clarify both the legal position and the potential financial exposure. I provide legal advice and representation in English, including in cross-border matters.

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