Metropolitan France · Tribunal judiciaire (court of first instance in civil matters)
Tribunal judiciaire (court of first instance in civil matters) — France
Format requirements for this court
| Court and track | Tribunal judiciaire (court of first instance in civil matters) |
|---|---|
| Paper | A4 |
| Margins | 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm |
| Type | Times New Roman, 12 pt |
| Line spacing | 1.5 |
| Paragraph numbering | {n}. |
A legible base font of at least 12 points. Smaller type is regularly queried at the court registry.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Tribunal judiciaire (court of first instance in civil matters)
An application or a claim form drafted in French on A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins, Times New Roman 12 pt, paragraphs numbered continuously. The application must state the identity and address of the parties, the subject of the claim, the facts and the documents relied on (articles 54, 57 and 58 of the code of civil procedure). Attach a schedule of numbered exhibits, sign at the end and provide one copy for the court and one copy for each other party. Representation by an avocat is not compulsory in the matters where the law does not impose it.
EUR 5,000 — For claims not exceeding 5000 EUR the claim may be set out orally before the tribunal judiciaire under article 847-1 of the code of civil procedure. The jurisdictional ceilings and the matters in which representation is not compulsory are set by the texts and must be verified on Légifrance.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Code de procédure civile, article 54 (mentions obligatoires de la demande en justice)
- Code de procédure civile, article 57 (contenu de l'assignation et bordereau de pièces)
- Code de procédure civile, article 58 (mentions des conclusions et pièces jointes)
- Code de procédure civile, article 750-1 (tentative de résolution amiable préalable)
Juge des contentieux de la protection (small-claims judge within the tribunal judiciaire)
The same presentation as before the tribunal judiciaire: French, A4, 2.5 cm margins, Times New Roman 12 pt, numbered paragraphs, a signature and a schedule of exhibits. The claim may be brought by an application handed to or sent to the court registry, and in small matters the parties may set out their own claim at the hearing.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Filing checklist - what to bring, in how many copies, and why documents get returned.
- One signed application, entirely in French, with the particulars required by article 54 (identity, domicile, subject, facts) and the operative part stating the claims.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- One copy for the court and one copy for each other party, plus enough copies of the exhibits.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- A schedule of exhibits numbered continuously from 1, each exhibit carrying the same number on its copy.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Evidence of the amicable resolution steps attempted (letters, formal demands, dates), or an explanation of why they did not succeed.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- A handwritten signature at the end, with your name written legibly, your address and, if any, your e-mail address.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Check that all the procedural documents are in French and attach a sworn translation of any foreign-language exhibit.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Check the competent court and registry and the applicable ceiling for the claim.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Attach the exhibits relied on, as legible copies, in the order of the schedule.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Keep a complete copy of the file and proof of the filing with the registry (receipt, recorded delivery or electronic acknowledgement).
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Why filings get sent back
- The application or an exhibit is drafted in a foreign language. A document in a foreign language is inadmissible; a translation by a sworn translator has to be produced, and procedural documents must be drafted in French.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- A party's identity or domicile is missing. Article 54 of the code of civil procedure requires the claim to state the name, forenames, occupation, domicile and nationality of each party; without them the registry cannot register or notify the claim.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- No attempt at amicable resolution is mentioned although for certain claims it is required on pain of inadmissibility (article 750-1 of the code of civil procedure). State the steps taken and their dates, or explain why they were not possible.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The exhibits are attached without a numbered schedule. Exhibits must be announced and numbered; without a schedule neither the judge nor the registry can link them to the facts stated.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The document is not signed. The claim must be signed by the party or by that party's representative; an unsigned application cannot be registered as it stands.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The application is addressed to a court or registry that is not the competent one. Territorial competence and the court's ceiling have to be checked before filing, otherwise the claim is transferred or dismissed.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The presentation makes the document hard to use: barely legible handwriting, type that is too small, no margins or unnumbered paragraphs. The registry and the judge must be able to cite paragraphs by number.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
The language you read here and the language of the documents are set separately.
Document language: Français. This is set by the court, not by the language you are reading now.
- Français (Required)
Before the French courts procedural documents are drafted in French: article 2 of the Constitution provides that the language of the Republic is French, and the law of 4 August 1994 requires the use of French in public services. A document in a foreign language is inadmissible unless accompanied by a translation by a sworn translator. The document set is therefore produced in French whatever language the interface is read in.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Disclosure: what this document set is and is not
This pack was assembled by a document preparation tool that organises the facts you supplied and aligns page format to the published requirements of the court named above. The person or company that produced it is not a lawyer and does not act as your representative before any court. No legal advice is given, no advisory or representation relationship is created, and no assessment is made of which text applies to your situation or of how strong your position is. You remain responsible for the contents of every document you file, for meeting every deadline, and for obtaining professional help where you need it. The source of every format rule is listed in the filing checklist.
I have read this disclosure and understand that this pack is a format and fact-organisation aid, not legal advice, and that no attorney has reviewed my documents.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Confirm you understand: citations are not verified
The system does not check whether a citation is real. You are responsible for checking each one in the official database: Légifrance (Legifrance.gouv.fr) et la base de jurisprudence Judilibre (Cour de cassation).
Légifrance (Legifrance.gouv.fr) et la base de jurisprudence Judilibre (Cour de cassation)
Check this reference yourself: that it exists, that it is still in force and that no later amendment or decision has changed it.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Code de procédure civile, article 54 (mentions obligatoires de la demande en justice)
- Code de procédure civile, article 57 (contenu de l'assignation et bordereau de pièces)
- Code de procédure civile, article 58 (mentions des conclusions et pièces jointes)
- Code de procédure civile, article 750-1 (tentative de résolution amiable préalable)
- Code de procédure civile, article 847-1 (demande présentée oralement, seuil de 5000 EUR)
- Constitution du 4 octobre 1958, article 2 (la langue de la République est le français)
- Loi n° 94-665 du 4 août 1994 relative à l'emploi de la langue française
- Légifrance, service public de la diffusion du droit (codes consolidés)
- Judilibre, base de jurisprudence de la Cour de cassation
- justice.fr, portail du ministère de la Justice (juridictions et démarches)
- service-public.fr, fiches d'information administrative et formulaires