Court Preparation Tool

Procedure guides

Filing a claim with the Italian Giudice di Pace: format and attachments

The page layout, numbered paragraphs, index of attachments, signature and copies to lodge when a claim is prepared before the Italian Giudice di Pace.

Italy

How it works

  1. Draft the heading: the court office, the docket number if already assigned and the parties with their details.
  2. Set the page: A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins, Times New Roman 12 pt and 1.5 line spacing.
  3. Number the paragraphs continuously from 1, one fact per paragraph, in date order.
  4. Sign by hand at the foot, print your name and add the index of numbered attachments.
  5. Prepare the original and one copy for each defendant and check the value of the claim against the limits of art. 7 of the code of civil procedure.

Next

Which language must the document be drafted in?

Italian: art. 122 of the code of civil procedure prescribes Italian throughout the proceedings, and documents in a foreign language must be filed with a translation, sworn where they are produced as evidence.

May I appear without a difensore before the Giudice di Pace?

In the cases set by art. 82 of the code of civil procedure a party may appear in person before the Giudice di Pace, and art. 318 allows the claim to be made orally on the record. This guide does not assess your position.

What is the maximum value of claims before the Giudice di Pace?

10000 EUR for claims relating to movable goods and 25000 EUR for damage caused by the circulation of motor vehicles and vessels (art. 7 of the code of civil procedure).

Format requirements for this court

Documents are filed on A4 paper, 210 by 297 mm. Codice di procedura civile, art. 121 (libertà di forme degli atti)
Margins of 2.5 cm are left on all four sides of the page. Codice di procedura civile, art. 121 (libertà di forme degli atti)
Paragraphs are numbered continuously from 1. Codice di procedura civile, art. 125 (contenuto e sottoscrizione degli atti di parte)
The document must be signed by the party filing it. Codice di procedura civile, art. 125 (contenuto e sottoscrizione degli atti di parte)
Italian is prescribed throughout the proceedings and documents in a foreign language must be filed with a translation (art. 122 of the code of civil procedure). Codice di procedura civile, art. 122 (lingua degli atti: uso della lingua italiana)
File the original and one copy for each defendant, plus the documents. Codice di procedura civile, art. 125 (contenuto e sottoscrizione degli atti di parte)
The Giudice di Pace has jurisdiction up to 10000 EUR for claims relating to movable goods and up to 25000 EUR for damage caused by the circulation of motor vehicles and vessels (art. 7 of the code of civil procedure). Codice di procedura civile, art. 7 (competenza del giudice di pace: 10000 EUR per i beni mobili e 25000 EUR per i danni da circolazione)

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.