Litigation Lawyers in Slovakia

What are the types of Courts in Slovakia?

The judicial system in Slovakia is not so branched, being formed by the:

– the Constitutional Court;
– the Supreme Court;
– regional courts;
– first instance courts.

Besides those, there are also the Supreme Administrative Court, the administrative courts and the Specialised Criminal Court (military courts were abolished in 2009). Our Slovak litigation lawyers can represent both legal entities and individuals in front of any of the courts mentioned above.

What are the responsibilities of the Slovak Courts?

The Constitutional Court in Slovakia is considered a separated body from the rest of the authorities; its decisions can’t be appealed in other courts. It is formed by thirteen judges appointed for a period of twelve years by the Slovak Republic’s president based on the nomination of the National Council. The names of the judges which hear cases can be visible on the Collection of Findings of the Constitutional Court’s website.

The Constitutional Court has the role of protecting the rights guaranteed by the Slovak Constitution, decides the constitutionality of laws and decrees, checks the conformity of various acts with the international agreements signed by Slovakia all over the years.

The Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic is considered the highest instance in the country and has as a major role, hearing cases already heard in the inferior courts and taking decisions against their initial decisions or endorses the inferior’s court’s decisions. It is also the first instance in cases targeting the state security or in cases related to deciding the competent court in certain situations.

The regional courts of Slovakia are second instance courts for the cases already heard at the district courts. There are eight regional courts in Slovakia in Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra ,Presov, Zilina, Trnava,Trencin. The regional courts are also hearing major criminal or civil cases.

The district courts are first instance courts in Slovakia for minor criminal and civil courts. Courts can also deal with cases pertainting to the immigration law in Slovakia.  Depending on the nationality, a Schengen Visa may be needed to enter the country. It must be registered at the embassy or consulate of Slovakia in the country of residency (country of nationality or country of permanent residence). A visa enables travel inside the Schengen Area and numerous entries throughout its validity. The overall stay within the Schengen Area is capped at 90 days within any 180-day period. For obtaining a Slovak residence permit, the procedure is nearly the same.

If you need more information about the responsibilities of each type of court in this country, do not hesitate to contact our local litigation lawyers in Slovakia. 

What are the Arbitrary Court’s responsibilities in Slovakia?

The arbitration process in Slovakia can take place only if the parties have agreed to use this process in case of a disagreement usually of a commercial nature. It is considered more advantageous than the legal procedures as the parties can decide where the process will take place, the name of the arbitrators and in certain cases the day where the process will take place.

The decisions of the Slovak Arbitration Court are final and irrevocable and must be put into practice immediately.

How long does litigation take in Slovakia?

A litigation process in Slovakia may take up to several years depending on the type of process, the availability of the lawyers and judges, the acceptance of the decision. If you are dealing with a litigation case it is highly recommended to ask for the help of our litigation attorneys in Slovakia, who will handle for you the entire trial.