Procedures
District and regional courts with electronic case files
Civil claims start in the district courts, with regional courts taking commercial, company and intellectual-property matters at first instance. Extraordinary appeal to the Supreme Court is limited to questions of law of significance.
Key rules
- The general limitation period is three years, and ten years for rights recognised by judgment.
- Appeal is within fifteen days of service of the written judgment.
- Extraordinary appeal requires a legal question not yet resolved by the Supreme Court.
- Electronic writ of payment is available for straightforward money claims.
Governing law
- Code of Civil Procedure (99/1963)Contentious civil procedure.
- Act on Special Court Proceedings (292/2013)Non-contentious and family matters.
- Act on Court Fees (549/1991)Generally 5% of the amount claimed.
In practice
Enforcement is carried out by private executors, and creditors may choose their executor, which in practice makes the choice a tactical decision.