Most people don't search for "dispute resolution lawyer" when something goes wrong. They search for what just happened to them. This guide covers the most common legal emergencies and stressful situations expats face in Poland โ and tells you exactly which type of lawyer to call and what to do first.
๐ My Property Has Been Confiscated or Seized
Property seizure in Poland can happen through criminal asset forfeiture, tax enforcement, debt enforcement by a court bailiff (komornik), or administrative expropriation. The type of lawyer you need depends on the source of the seizure.
Criminal or prosecutorial seizure: contact a criminal defence lawyer immediately โ within 24 hours if possible. They can challenge the seizure order before the court and apply for return of assets not covered by the arrest warrant.
Tax authority seizure: contact a tax lawyer. Polish tax enforcement can be suspended by filing an appeal and applying for a stay of execution. Time is critical โ a stay application must typically be filed within 7 days of receiving the seizure decision.
Bailiff enforcement: if a court bailiff has seized assets to satisfy a debt judgment, contact a litigation lawyer. If you dispute the underlying judgment, an appeal or application for enforcement suspension is needed.
Expropriation for public purposes (roads, railways): a real estate lawyer can challenge inadequate compensation through administrative proceedings and ultimately in court.
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๐ I'm Getting Divorced in Poland
Divorce in Poland is handled exclusively by the family division of the Regional Court. Even an uncontested divorce requires a court hearing โ there is no administrative or online divorce. The key decisions are: division of marital assets, custody of children, and maintenance (alimony).
What to do first: before issuing proceedings, have a family lawyer review your marital property situation. If you and your spouse own property or have significant assets, agreeing a financial settlement before court will save significant time and cost. A divorce with no children and an agreed financial split can complete in a single hearing (typically 3โ4 months from filing).
If children are involved: Polish courts appoint the OZSS family diagnostic centre to assess both parents. The process takes longer (12โ24 months for contested cases). An experienced family lawyer will prepare you for the OZSS assessment and advise on interim custody arrangements.
International element: if you or your spouse are not Polish nationals, there are additional questions about which country's courts have jurisdiction and which country's law governs the divorce. This requires a lawyer with international family law experience. Wardyลski & Partners and Lawyersinpoland.com both handle cross-border family matters.
๐ Someone Hit Me โ How Do I File a Lawsuit in Poland?
Road traffic accidents in Poland typically involve two parallel processes: an insurance claim and, if the insurance company does not pay adequately, a civil lawsuit.
Step 1 โ Immediately after the accident: call 112 if there are injuries. If no injuries, you and the other driver can complete an Accident Statement (Oลwiadczenie o zdarzeniu drogowym). Take photographs, get the other driver's name, address, registration plate and insurance policy number.
Step 2 โ Insurance claim: submit a claim to the other driver's Polish insurer (Polish motor insurance is compulsory). The insurer has 30 days to pay out or provide a written rejection. Polish insurers frequently underpay โ particularly for non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of amenity).
Step 3 โ If the insurer underpays: a litigation lawyer can pursue the insurer or the other driver in court for the full value of your loss. Polish courts award compensation for: medical expenses, loss of earnings, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering (zadoลฤuczynienie), and โ in serious injury cases โ permanent disability.
Limitation period: personal injury claims in Poland must be brought within 3 years of the date you knew about the damage and the person responsible (or 20 years if the accident also involved a criminal offence). Do not delay โ engage a lawyer as soon as the insurer makes an unsatisfactory offer.
๐ผ I've Been Fired Unfairly
Polish employment law provides strong protections against unfair dismissal. If you had an indefinite-term contract, your employer must provide a written reason for termination. If the reason is not genuine, you can challenge it in the Labour Court (Sฤ d Pracy).
Critical deadline: 21 days. You must file your Labour Court claim within 21 days of receiving notice of termination (or 21 days of the termination date if no written notice was given). Miss this deadline and you lose the right to challenge.
What you can claim: reinstatement to your position, or compensation of 1โ3 months' salary (or up to 12 months' salary for protected employees such as those close to retirement or on parental leave).
Find a lawyer immediately โ do not wait to see if you can resolve it informally with HR. The 21-day clock starts the moment you receive the termination letter. Employment specialists Raczkowski and PCS Law handle large volumes of individual employee claims and offer initial consultations.
๐ I've Been Arrested or Am Under Police Investigation
If Polish police have detained you, you have the right to: remain silent, be told the grounds for your detention in a language you understand, and speak to a lawyer before any questioning. Exercise all three immediately.
Do not answer questions without a lawyer present. Polish police are permitted to question suspects, and anything you say can be used as evidence. Requesting a lawyer is not an admission of guilt โ it is your legal right.
What happens next: police can hold you for up to 48 hours without charge. After that, the prosecutor must either release you or apply to the court for pre-trial detention (areszttymczasowy). A criminal defence lawyer can oppose that application and propose alternatives (bail, reporting conditions, travel ban).
Interpreter: you are entitled to a court-appointed interpreter at no cost. However, having your own lawyer who speaks your language will be faster and more reliable in the critical early hours.
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๐ My Landlord Is Refusing My Deposit or Evicting Me Illegally
Tenant-landlord disputes are common in Polish cities. The law provides meaningful protections for tenants, but you need to act correctly.
Deposit disputes: a landlord must return your deposit (kaucja) within 30 days of the end of the tenancy, less legitimate deductions. If they refuse or make unjustified deductions, you can sue in the Civil Court โ deposit claims are handled as small claims (postฤpowanie uproszczone) for amounts up to PLN 20,000, which are faster and cheaper than standard proceedings.
Illegal eviction: a landlord cannot physically remove you from a property โ even if you owe rent โ without a court order. If your landlord changes the locks, cuts off utilities or removes your belongings, this is illegal. A real estate lawyer can apply for an emergency injunction restoring your possession, typically within 24โ48 hours.
Notice to quit: Polish law sets strict notice requirements for terminating tenancies. A landlord must give at least 1โ3 months' written notice depending on the grounds. Notices served without a proper legal basis are invalid.
๐ค A Business Partner or Client Owes Me Money
Commercial debt recovery in Poland has become significantly more efficient in recent years. For clear-cut unpaid invoices, the payment order procedure (nakaz zapลaty) allows a court to issue a judgment without a full hearing, often within weeks. The debtor then has 14 days to pay or contest.
If the debt is uncontested and under PLN 75,000, proceedings can be filed electronically through the e-Court system (e-Sฤ d). For larger sums or contested debts, standard Regional Court proceedings apply (18โ30 months in Warsaw).
Once you have a final judgment, enforcement through a court bailiff (komornik) can seize the debtor's bank accounts, receivables and movable assets. Polish enforcement is generally effective against debtors with assets in Poland.
โ My Visa or Residence Permit Has Been Refused or Is About to Expire
Immigration problems are time-sensitive. If your current visa or residence permit is expiring and your new application is pending, Polish law allows you to continue staying and working legally โ but only if you applied before the expiry date. Your lawyer must ensure you have the correct "stamp" in your passport confirming the pending status.
Refusal of a TRC application: you have 14 days to appeal a refusal decision to the Voivode, and then to the Head of the Office for Foreigners (Szef Urzฤdu do Spraw Cudzoziemcรณw). A further appeal to the Administrative Court is available. An immigration lawyer can advise whether the refusal has merit or was procedurally defective.
Overstay: if your permit has already expired, you are in an irregular situation. Voluntary departure and reapplying from your home country is usually a better outcome than being subject to an expulsion decision, which can result in a multi-year entry ban. Get legal advice immediately.
๐ I Want to Buy a Property in Poland
Property purchases in Poland require a notarial deed โ you cannot transfer ownership with a simple contract. The process involves: Land Register (Ksiฤga Wieczysta) due diligence, preliminary agreement (umowa przedwstฤpna), notarial deed at completion, and KRS registration of the new owner.
For non-EU nationals, agricultural and forest land requires a permit from the Minister of Internal Affairs. For residential and commercial property in cities, there is no restriction. Engage a real estate lawyer to carry out due diligence before signing anything โ problems found after signing a preliminary agreement are expensive to unwind.
๐ I've Received a Tax Demand or Am Being Audited
Polish tax authority (KAS) investigations have intensified. If you receive an audit notice (upowaลผnienie do kontroli podatkowej), do not ignore it and do not submit documents without legal advice. A tax lawyer can review the notice, assess the risk, and manage communication with the authorities.
For individuals, the most common issues are: undeclared foreign income (Poland taxes worldwide income of tax residents), failure to file (the deadline is 30 April for most individuals), and disputes over tax residency status. A voluntary disclosure (czynny ลผal) before an investigation begins can significantly reduce penalties.
๐ I Want to Start a Business in Poland
The most common vehicle for foreign investors is the sp. z o.o. (limited liability company). Minimum share capital: PLN 5,000. Can be formed online in 24 hours for standard articles, or by notarial deed in 2โ4 weeks for custom structures. A corporate lawyer handles formation, shareholders' agreements and ongoing compliance.