Commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation, including enforcement of foreign judgments.
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Arbitration is often faster, private, and internationally enforceable under the New York Convention. Your lawyer can advise which route is better for your dispute.
EU judgments are generally enforceable across member states. Non-EU judgments require a separate recognition process. A litigation lawyer can advise.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Austria's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsAustrian civil procedure is governed by the Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) 1895. The court system: Bezirksgericht (up to EUR 15,000 or listed family/tenancy matters), Landesgericht (above EUR 15,000), Oberlandesgericht (OLG) (appellate), Oberster Gerichtshof (OGH) (supreme, law-only review). Austria is home to the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), a leading arbitration institution for Central and Eastern Europe.
| Claim Value | First Instance Fee | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Up to EUR 150 | EUR 23 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 151 - EUR 750 | EUR 49 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 751 - EUR 2,000 | EUR 98 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 2,001 - EUR 3,500 | EUR 166 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 3,501 - EUR 7,000 | EUR 279 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 7,001 - EUR 35,000 | EUR 452 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 35,001 - EUR 70,000 | EUR 905 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| EUR 70,001 - EUR 140,000 | EUR 1,812 | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
| Above EUR 140,000 | 1.2% of claim value | GGG Tarifpost 1 |
The Mahnverfahren allows creditors to obtain a payment order (Zahlungsbefehl) for uncontested monetary claims up to EUR 75,000 without a hearing. Filed online via Justiz-Online (webERV). Court fee: 50% of the ordinary first-instance fee. If the debtor does not oppose within 4 weeks, the Zahlungsbefehl becomes enforceable as an Exekutionstitel. If opposed, the matter converts to ordinary proceedings. The Europaeischer Zahlungsbefehl (EZB) applies for cross-border EU claims (Regulation 1896/2006).
The Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC) administers arbitration under its 2021 Rules. Registration fee: EUR 1,000. Arbitrator fees: approximately 1.5-3% of claim value up to EUR 1M, declining for higher amounts. VIAC is particularly used for CEE cross-border disputes, energy, real estate, and construction. VIAC awards are enforceable under the New York Convention in 170+ states.
The Zivilrechts-Mediations-Gesetz (ZivMediatG) 2003 provides the framework. Registered mediators must complete 200+ hours training. Courts may suggest mediation (ZPO 204). Mediation suspends limitation periods during the process (ZivMediatG 22). Family mediation strongly encouraged before contested custody proceedings (AussStrG 104a).
An Austrian general contractor disputed a subcontractor's final invoice of EUR 220,000 for alleged defective work on a Vienna office fit-out. The subcontractor filed at the Handelsgericht Wien. Court fee: 1.2% x EUR 220,000 = EUR 2,640. The contractor counterclaimed for EUR 95,000 in remediation costs. The court appointed a Bausachverstaendiger whose report cost EUR 18,000 (shared). After 14 months, the parties settled: subcontractor received EUR 155,000, contractor's counterclaim dismissed. Total litigation cost for the subcontractor (legal fees ~EUR 22,000 + expert share EUR 9,000 + court fee EUR 2,640): approximately EUR 33,640 to recover a net EUR 155,000.
