Procedures
Oral civil procedure since Law 902 took effect in 2017
The Código Procesal Civil (Ley 902) replaced the 1906 written code and introduced oral hearings, concentrated evidence and electronic notification. It is a genuine modernisation, though implementation capacity varies outside Managua.
Key rules
- The proceso ordinario covers general claims; the proceso sumario handles listed and lower-value matters.
- Evidence is proposed in the pleadings and admitted at a preliminary hearing.
- Precautionary measures require appearance of good right, danger in delay and normally security.
- Appeal lies to the Tribunales de Apelaciones, then casación to the Corte Suprema.
- Arbitration under Ley 540 follows the Model Law, and Nicaragua is a New York Convention party.
Governing law
- Código Procesal Civil (Ley 902 de 2015, in force 2017)Oral civil procedure.
- Ley de Mediación y Arbitraje (Ley 540 de 2005)ADR and arbitration.
In practice
Because the code is recent, transitional questions still arise for claims filed before 2017. For cross-border contracts, arbitration seated outside Nicaragua is the common risk-management choice given concerns about judicial independence.