Croatia · Overview
The legal system of Croatia
A civil-law system based on the 1990 Constitution and codes influenced by the Austro-German tradition, with a strong Constitutional Court. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and adopted the euro and joined Schengen in 2023.
Legal tradition
Croatia belongs to the civil law tradition. A civil-law system based on the 1990 Constitution and codes influenced by the Austro-German tradition, with a strong Constitutional Court. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and adopted the euro and joined Schengen in 2023.
How power is divided
A parliamentary republic with a directly elected President focused on defence and foreign affairs, a Government answerable to the Sabor and an independent judiciary.
Where law comes from
- Constitution
- The 1990 constitution as amended.
- EU law
- Directly applicable and, in its field, paramount.
- Laws of the Sabor
- Primary legislation.
- Codes
- The Civil Obligations Act, Penal Code and procedural codes.
The legal profession
Odvjetnici belong to the Croatian Bar Association; javni bilježnici (notaries) handle deeds, company acts and succession.
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