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.
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Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsCourt hierarchy, contributo unificato (filing fees), mandatory mediation under D.Lgs. 28/2010, and the decreto ingiuntivo (payment order) procedure.
| Court | Jurisdiction (Civil) | Representation | Average Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giudice di Pace | Up to €5,000 (moveable property); €20,000 (traffic); neighbourhood disputes | Self-rep permitted up to €1,100 | 6–18 months |
| Tribunale (monocratico) | €5,001–€25,000; most employment cases; evictions | Avvocato mandatory | 2–4 years |
| Tribunale (collegiale) | >€25,000; company law; real estate complex; IP | Avvocato mandatory | 3–6 years |
| Tribunale delle Imprese | Corporate, IP, competition, M&A disputes in major cities | Avvocato mandatory | 2–4 years |
| Corte d'Appello | Appeals from Tribunale; 2nd instance | Avvocato mandatory | 3–5 years |
| Corte di Cassazione | Points of law only; final appeal | Avvocato cassazionista mandatory | 3–6 years |
| Case Value | Contributo Unificato |
|---|---|
| Up to €1,100 | €43 |
| €1,101 – €5,200 | €98 |
| €5,201 – €26,000 | €237 |
| €26,001 – €52,000 | €518 |
| €52,001 – €260,000 | €759 |
| €260,001 – €520,000 | €1,214 |
| Over €520,000 | €1,686 |
| Indeterminate / Inestimable | €518 (Tribunale) / €759 (Corte d'Appello) |
Contributo unificato is doubled for appeals. Loser pays costs (condanna alle spese) under CPC art. 91 — includes contributo unificato, notificazioni, and avvocato fees liquidated per DM 55/2014 parameters. Patrocinio a spese dello Stato available for ISEE below €11,746.68.
Before filing court proceedings in certain categories, claimants must first attempt mediation. Failure to do so is a procedural bar (condizione di procedibilità).
| Subject Matter | Mandatory? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Co-ownership / condominium disputes | YES | D.Lgs. 28/2010 art. 5 |
| Real estate / property rights | YES | Includes lease, easement, usufruct disputes |
| Banking and financial services | YES | Including insurance disputes |
| Inheritance (successione) | YES | |
| Family pacts (patti di famiglia) | YES | |
| Medical malpractice (responsabilità medica) | YES | L. 24/2017 (Legge Gelli-Bianco) — CTU expert assessment first |
| Defamation | YES | |
| Employment disputes | NO | Separate conciliazione at DTL or bilateral bodies |
| Company law disputes | YES (from 2023) | D.Lgs. 149/2022 (Riforma Cartabia) extended scope |
For undisputed debts with documentary evidence (invoices, contracts, bank records). Filed ex parte — debtor not heard until after the order is issued.
| Step | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| File ricorso at Tribunale with documentary evidence | Day 1 | Avvocato required at Tribunale; contributo unificato paid |
| Judge issues decreto ingiuntivo | 7–30 days | Ex parte — debtor not present; judge reviews papers only |
| Decree notified to debtor | Within 60 days of issuance | Via ufficiale giudiziario; starts 40-day opposition window |
| If unopposed: decree becomes final (definitivo) | 40 days from notification | Executory; creditor can proceed with pignoramento (enforcement) |
| If debtor opposes: full giudizio di opposizione | Standard Tribunale timelines apply | Debtor bears burden of proving payment or invalidity of debt |
Provvisoria esecuzione (immediate enforceability) can be requested if debt is liquid and certain (CPC art. 642). Enforcement (esecuzione forzata): pignoramento mobiliare (personal property), immobiliare (real estate), presso terzi (bank account garnishment — very common).
Sources: CPC artt. 91 (costs), 633–656 (decreto ingiuntivo); D.Lgs. 28/2010 (mediation); D.Lgs. 149/2022 (Riforma Cartabia); DPR 115/2002 (contributo unificato — values updated by annual ministerial decree); L. 24/2017 (medical malpractice).
