Litigation in Serbia

Foreign entrepreneurs with businesses in Serbia can sometimes face different commercial disagreements whether with Serbian partners or companies. In this matter, there are two main methods through which the conflicts can end, one is the arbitration and the other one is litigation. Our Serbian litigation lawyers can conduct the situations of commercial disputes or business divergencies, therefore, it is suggested to ask for legal support and advice in front of the authorities. 

 

From the beginning, it is good to know that the Supreme Court of Cassation represents the highest court of law in Serbia. The following important courts are the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the High Commercial Court, the Appellate Court, the Higher Misdemeanor Court ensued by the regional, municipal and administrative courts. According to the Law on Organization of Courts, the higher courts are immediately superior to the main courts in Serbia.

 

Serbia can be an optimal destination for those who want to relocate to a country full of opportunities. If you also want to immigrate to Serbia, we recommend the services of our lawyers who can take care of the formalities from a legal point of view. You need to check what type of visa is needed, as well as the procedures for obtaining a residence permit in Serbia.

 

 

 

The Serbian Constitutional Court is an independent state body which protects the legality and constitutionality of different regulations such as laws and general acts, statute and general acts of autonomous provinces and local self-government units, general acts of organizations, ratified international treaties as well as human and minority rights and freedoms. It is formed by 15 judges, five elected by the President of Serbia, five by the National Assembly, and five elected at the General Session of the Supreme Court of Cassation for a period of nine years. It’s mandatory to take the oath before the President of the National Assembly.

 

The Serbian Supreme Court or the Court of Cassation is considered the highest instance in the Serbian judicial system which reviews and, if necessary, overturns previous decisions made by lower courts. Beside this, it determines the jurisdiction in various cases, acts in order to provide uniform application of law by courts, delivers opinions on various acts which will determine the performance of the judicial authority and has an active role in selecting the members of the High Judicial Council from the judges and proposes candidates for one permanent member of the High Judicial Council. It is considered the highest instance in front of the Commercial Appellate Court, the Higher Misdemeanor Court, the Administrative Court, and the Appellate Court.

 

There are several appellate courts in Serbia: Apelacioni Sud Beograd, Apelacioni Sud Kragujevac, Apelacioni Sud Nis which are taking the final decisions in various appeals against decisions of municipal courts in criminal proceedings, against judgments of the municipal courts, on conflicts of the jurisdiction of lower courts, on the transfer of jurisdiction of primary and high courts. The following courts are also of high importance in Serbia:

 

• • the regional courts hear appeals against the municipal courts and are the first instance in major criminal and civil cases and the second instance in cases already heard at the municipal courts;
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• • the municipal courts are the first instance courts in criminal cases which imply a punishment time no longer than ten years and civil cases involving housing disputes, related to employment, any compensation for the damage suffered by an employee during work or related to work and others;
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• • the Serbian legal system is also composed of three administrative courts which hear administrative cases in Kragujevac, Nis, and Novi Sad. The administrative courts are in charge of protecting the civilians from the administrative legal measures taken by the authorities when those are considered to be inappropriate;
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• • the Serbian High Commercial Court is the higher instance in appeals against decisions of commercial courts, and in the first instance in certain cases decided by the law. It also decides on the jurisdiction transfer of the local commercial court;
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• • misdemeanor courts in the first instance adjudicate in minor offences, while the Higher Misdemeanor Court decides on appeals against its decisions or on conflict and transfer of jurisdiction of misdemeanor courts.

 

 

 

The Arbitrary Court of Serbia decides mostly in commercial cases based on agreements signed between the parties which approve this method of settling a dispute. It is more advantageous than litigation because of the fact that it has lower costs, it is faster and the arbitrators can be chosen by the parties.

 

 

 

Litigation in Serbia may take from six months to several years, depending on the complexity of the case, the appeals made on the initial decisions, the availability of the judges and the lawyers. No matter the case you are involved in, our attorneys in Serbia can provide complete legal support in front of the authorities and can explain your rights.

 

The status of the judges in Serbia

How the Supreme Court of Cassation in Serbia makes decisions

 

For more details about the judicial system, you may contact our attorneys in Serbia. We can also put you in touch with our local partners in Macedonia on request.