Court Preparation Tool

Procedure guides

Filing a claim with the French tribunal judiciaire: format and copies

The mandatory particulars, the page layout, the schedule of exhibits and the copies to lodge when you prepare a claim yourself for a French civil court.

Metropolitan France

How it works

  1. Draft the heading: the court and registry, the subject of the claim and the identity and domicile of every party (article 54 of the code of civil procedure).
  2. Set the page: A4, 2.5 cm margins on all four sides, Times New Roman 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing.
  3. Number the paragraphs continuously from 1, one fact per paragraph, in date order.
  4. Describe the amicable resolution steps already attempted with their dates, then sign by hand and attach a schedule of numbered exhibits.
  5. Prepare one copy for the court and one copy for each other party, and check which court is competent before sending.

Next

Can the claim be filed in English?

No. Procedural documents are drafted in French and a document in a foreign language is inadmissible; a translation by a sworn translator has to be provided.

Is an avocat required to bring a claim before the tribunal judiciaire?

Not in every matter: in small claims the parties may set out their claim orally and representation is not imposed by law. This page does not say whether your matter is one where representation is compulsory.

How many copies should be prepared?

One copy for the court and one copy for each other party, plus copies of the exhibits in the order of the schedule.

Format requirements for this court

Filings are made on A4 paper, 210 by 297 mm. Code de procédure civile, article 54 (mentions obligatoires de la demande en justice)
Margins of 2.5 cm are left on all four sides of the page. Code de procédure civile, article 54 (mentions obligatoires de la demande en justice)
Paragraphs are numbered continuously upwards from 1. Code de procédure civile, article 57 (contenu de l'assignation et bordereau de pièces)
The claim must be signed by the party bringing it. Code de procédure civile, article 57 (contenu de l'assignation et bordereau de pièces)
Documents are drafted in French; a document in a foreign language is inadmissible unless a translation by a sworn translator is attached. Loi n° 94-665 du 4 août 1994 relative à l'emploi de la langue française
Provide one copy for the court and one copy for each other party. Code de procédure civile, article 57 (contenu de l'assignation et bordereau de pièces)
For claims not exceeding 5000 EUR the claim may be set out orally before the tribunal judiciaire (article 847-1 of the code of civil procedure). Code de procédure civile, article 847-1 (demande présentée oralement, seuil de 5000 EUR)

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.