What to expect after filing

Stages after filing

1. Registration and review

After filing, the court registers the petition and assigns a case number. The designated judge verifies that the petition meets legal requirements.

2. Notification to defendant

The court sends a copy of the petition to the defendant, who is given a legal deadline to submit a response.

3. Written or oral procedure

In the small claims procedure, the judge may decide:

Written procedure — the decision is made solely based on submitted documents, without a court hearing
Court hearing — if the judge deems it necessary, a hearing is scheduled

4. Court hearing (if held)

If a hearing is scheduled:

You will receive a summons
Appear at the indicated date and time
Bring original documents
Be prepared to answer the judge's questions
You may be assisted by a lawyer (optional)

5. Court ruling

The judge issues a ruling, which may be:

Claim granted — the defendant is ordered to pay/do what you requested
Claim denied — the court did not rule in your favor
Partially granted — the court granted only part of the claims

Approximate timelines

Petition review: typically within a few months of filing
The ruling is communicated to parties in writing
Appeal deadline: typically 30 days from receiving the ruling

Enforcement of the ruling

If the defendant does not voluntarily comply with the ruling:

Obtain an enforcement title (writ of execution)
Submit an application to a judicial executor
The judicial executor will carry out forced enforcement

Timelines and procedures may vary. Consult a lawyer for your specific situation.