Court Preparation Tool

Procedure guides

Filing a Claim with a Polish Sąd Rejonowy: Format Checklist

What a Polish district court reads first in a self-prepared pozew, how the index of attachments is built, when the simplified procedure applies and why pleadings come back.

Poland

How it works

  1. Work out the value in dispute: up to 20,000 PLN you may use the e-sąd electronic procedure, and up to 100,000 PLN the case goes to the simplified procedure.
  2. Name the court, the parties and their addresses, the request and its justification, as article 187 requires.
  3. Set out the facts in paragraphs numbered from 1, one event per paragraph, in date order.
  4. Set the page: A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins, 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing, paragraphs numbered from 1.
  5. Number the attachments from 1, add an index of attachments, sign the claim and calculate the court fee from the value in dispute.

Next

Is a lawyer required in the sąd rejonowy?

No. You may file the claim yourself, and an employee or insured person may even bring it orally, recorded in the minutes, under article 466 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This tool does not replace legal assistance.

In which language is the claim written?

In Polish: pleadings are drawn up in writing in Polish (article 125 of the Code of Civil Procedure), and a document in another language is filed with a translation.

How is the court fee calculated?

The fee is measured by the value in dispute under articles 13 and 28 of the Act on court costs in civil cases; the amount for your claim has to be checked.

Format requirements for this court

Claims for payment of up to 100,000 PLN are heard by the sąd rejonowy in the simplified procedure. Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, art. 125 i 126 (forma pisma), art. 187 (treść pozwu), art. 466 (pozew ustny do protokołu) i art. 505¹ (postępowanie uproszczone)
In the electronic order-for-payment procedure claims of up to 20,000 PLN may be pursued. e-sad.gov.pl: elektroniczne postępowanie upominawcze and its form
An employee or insured person may bring a claim orally before the court, recorded in the minutes (article 466 of the Code of Civil Procedure). Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, art. 125 i 126 (forma pisma), art. 187 (treść pozwu), art. 466 (pozew ustny do protokołu) i art. 505¹ (postępowanie uproszczone)
A pozew states the court, the parties, the request and its justification, and is signed (article 187 of the Code of Civil Procedure). Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, art. 125 i 126 (forma pisma), art. 187 (treść pozwu), art. 466 (pozew ustny do protokołu) i art. 505¹ (postępowanie uproszczone)
Pleadings are drawn up in Polish (article 125 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the Polish Language Act). Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, art. 125 i 126 (forma pisma), art. 187 (treść pozwu), art. 466 (pozew ustny do protokołu) i art. 505¹ (postępowanie uproszczone)
The pleading is set on A4 with 2.5 cm margins, 12 point type and 1.5 line spacing. Ministerstwo Sprawiedliwości (gov.pl / sprawiedliwosc.gov.pl): Pozew i Opłaty sądowe pages

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.