Court fee calculator - what it costs to file a claim in Georgia
The state duty is the first sum a court dispute asks for - before the lawyer's fee and before any expert report. It is a percentage of the claim value with a statutory minimum and maximum, and it rises with each instance: an appeal costs more than the first-instance claim, and cassation more still.
This calculator applies the rates of the Law of Georgia on State Duty: choose the claim type, the amount and the instance. The result is a guide for deciding whether to go to court, not a payment order - the exact sum is set by the court when it accepts the claim.
Updated · Rates require verification by a lawyer
Fee rates by instance and type of claim
Three instances, two types - six rates built into the calculator. The percentage rises by one point at each instance, while the minimum and maximum nearly double.
Three examples - where the minimum bites and where the maximum does
The percentage only works in the middle of the range: on a small claim you pay the minimum, on a large one the maximum. That changes strategy.
A GEL 2,000 debt
3% = GEL 60, but the minimum is GEL 100 - you pay GEL 100, 5% of the claim. On a small debt the fee is comparatively heavy, which is why a GEL 2,000 dispute is often settled before court.
A GEL 40,000 flat dispute
3% = GEL 1,200 - in the middle of the range, you pay GEL 1,200. At the appeal stage 4% = GEL 1,600, at cassation 5% = GEL 2,000. All three instances together: GEL 4,800.
A GEL 500,000 contract
3% = GEL 15,000, but the maximum is GEL 3,000 - you pay GEL 3,000, 0.6% of the claim. In large disputes the fee is negligible next to the lawyer's fee, and the claimant files the full demand.
Who does not pay - cases exempt by law
The exemption attaches to the category of case, not to the claimant's income. Tick the box in the calculator if your case is on this list.
- Labour disputes - claims for wages or compensation, reinstatement: the employee is exempt at every instance.
- Ordering or increasing alimony - the claimant parent or other legal representative.
- Compensation for harm caused by injury to health or by the loss of a breadwinner.
- A claim for damage caused by a crime, within the criminal case.
- Damage caused by unlawful conviction, detention or an administrative penalty, claimed from the state.
- Certain public bodies and case categories under Article 5 of the law - the list is long, and a lawyer checks it before filing.
What happens when you cannot pay the fee or the case ends early
Deferral or instalments
Because of the claimant's financial position the court may defer the fee or allow it in instalments - on a motion filed with the claim, with documents proving income. A refusal can be appealed separately.
Reduction
On the same ground the court may also reduce the amount. In practice this is rare and needs solid justification - a pension, social status, dependants.
Refund
The fee is refunded if the claim is withdrawn before acceptance, if you paid more than the law requires, or if the court left the claim without consideration. An application to the court, the refund comes from the treasury.
On settlement
When a case ends by settlement the fee is, as a rule, not refunded, but its allocation can be written into the settlement terms. A lawyer addresses this in the settlement text itself.
On winning
In the judgment the court orders the losing party to pay the fee in proportion to the claims upheld. On a partial win, the fee comes back in part.
Questions about the court fee
Does the claim value include interest and penalties?
Yes - the claim value is the total demanded as of the filing date, including interest and penalties accrued. Future interest (up to enforcement) is not included. For a property claim the value is the market value of the property.
Several claims in one action - is the fee calculated separately or on the total?
Monetary claims are added together and the fee is calculated on the total, with one minimum and one maximum. If the action contains a monetary and a non-monetary claim at once, both fees are paid separately.
Is the fee on a counterclaim calculated the same way?
Yes - a counterclaim is an independent claim and is charged at the same rate. A defendant who merely contests the claim without a counterclaim pays no fee.
I paid the fee and the claim was returned for defects. Do I pay again?
No - within the period for curing the defects the same receipt remains valid. If you miss the deadline and the claim is returned, you can request a refund or attach the receipt to a new claim.
Does a foreign claimant pay the same fee?
Yes - the rate does not depend on citizenship. The only difference is in the mechanics of payment: the fee is paid in GEL to the Georgian treasury account, and when paying with a foreign card the conversion difference is borne by the claimant.
Other calculators and pages
You have the fee - now decide whether court is worth it
At a free consultation a lawyer will weigh the fee, the legal fee and the chance of success together - within 15 minutes the coordinator will connect you with a specialist in your field.