How Much Are Trial Expenses in 2024? Tips and Things to Know
As of 2024, there have been increases in trial expenses at certain rates. Trial expenses consist of amounts paid to cover the expenses incurred by the court when filing a lawsuit and during the litigation process. In this article, you can find detailed information about how much trial expenses are as of 2024 and how these expenses are calculated.
1. Types of Trial Expenses
Trial expenses consist of various items. The most up-to-date trial expenses for 2024 are as follows:
Application Fee: This is the fee that must be paid in order for a lawsuit to be filed. For example, the application fee for filing a lawsuit in civil courts of first instance varies between 500 TL and 1,500 TL as of 2024.
Decision and Judgment Fee: This is the fee paid if the decision given by the court as a result of the lawsuit becomes final. This fee is determined according to the value in question. In 2024, the judgment fee may range from 0.5% to 5% depending on the type of decision.
Discovery Expenses: These are expenses incurred in cases where the court must conduct an on-site investigation. As of 2024, discovery expenses range from 2,000 TL to 10,000 TL.
Witness Fee: These are the fees paid for witnesses heard in court. In 2024, the fee paid to witnesses may range from 150 TL to 500 TL per hearing.
Expert Fee: These are the fees paid to experts appointed by the court. This fee varies depending on the expert’s area of expertise. The average expert fee in 2024 will be between 3,000 TL and 15,000 TL.
2. Who Pays the Trial Expenses?
The Losing Party: As a general rule, the losing party pays the trial expenses. For example, the person who loses a debt case must cover both the attorney fees of the other party and all court expenses.
Expenses Paid in Advance: When the case is filed, the party filing the case pays the application fee and litigation expenses in advance. However, at the end of the case, the court collects these payments made by the winning party from the losing party.
3. Calculation of Trial Expenses
The calculation of trial expenses varies according to the type and value of the case. For example:
Divorce Case: In divorce cases, the application fee and other expenses may be between 1,500 TL and 5,000 TL in total as of 2024. This amount may increase depending on the hearing of witnesses, expert reports and other procedures.
Commercial Cases: Trial expenses in commercial cases vary according to the size of the case. For example, in a commercial case worth 1 million TL, the fees and other expenses may reach approximately 20,000 TL in 2024.
4. Trial Expenses in the Appeal and Appeal Stages
The party who wants to object to the result of the case must also pay the trial expenses when applying for appeal or appeal. As of 2024, these expenses are as follows:
Appeal Fee: The fee paid when applying to the appellate courts varies depending on the type of case. For example, the fee to be paid for an appeal application can be between 5,000 TL and 20,000 TL in commercial cases.
Appeal Fee: The appeal fee to be paid for applications to the Court of Cassation has also increased in a similar way in 2024. The fee to be paid for appeal applications varies between 10,000 TL and 30,000 TL on average.
5. Exemption from Trial Expenses
Legal Aid Request: Persons with financial difficulties can be exempted from trial expenses by requesting legal aid. If the court accepts legal aid, these persons will not be held responsible for the litigation expenses. As of 2024, individuals with low incomes can benefit from this right.
Sample Application
A worker filed a compensation lawsuit for 50,000 TL in the labor court, claiming that he was unfairly dismissed. The worker paid 1,000 TL as an application fee when filing the lawsuit. As a result of the lawsuit, the worker was found right and the employer lost the case. The court held the employer responsible for paying all litigation expenses and the employee’s attorney fees. In this case, the employer had to pay the employee not only compensation but also court expenses of up to 10,000 TL.
6. Ways to Avoid Litigation Expenses
You can consider the following tips to minimize litigation expenses:
Trying Conciliation: Parties can avoid litigation expenses by reaching a settlement before filing a lawsuit. Mediation, especially in commercial disputes, can be an effective solution to reduce litigation expenses.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods: Applying to mediation or arbitration boards before resorting to the judicial process may offer lower cost solutions.
