Civil Case
in Romania
Understand how civil litigation works in Romania: types of disputes, procedural stages, and how to track your case online.
What is a civil case?
A civil case (dosar civil) is a judicial proceeding that resolves disputes between private parties — individuals or legal entities — regarding their rights and obligations. Unlike criminal cases, civil proceedings are initiated by the aggrieved party (the plaintiff) who files a claim (cerere de chemare in judecata) with the competent court.
Civil cases cover a vast area of law including: property disputes and ownership claims, contractual obligations and breach of contract, debt recovery and payment orders, inheritance and succession, tort liability and compensation for damages, and various other non-criminal legal matters.
The civil process in Romania is governed by the Code of Civil Procedure (Codul de procedura civila) and follows principles of adversarial proceedings, oral debates, and the right of appeal. Each case receives a unique number that allows you to track its progress through the judicial system.
Common types of civil disputes
Property Disputes
Ownership claims, boundary disputes, evictions, and real estate transactions.
Contractual Claims
Breach of contract, unpaid invoices, service disputes, and commercial obligations.
Debt Recovery
Payment orders, outstanding debts, bank loans, and financial obligations.
Inheritance
Succession proceedings, will disputes, and estate division among heirs.
Stages of a civil case
Filing the Claim (Cererea de chemare in judecata)
The plaintiff files a written claim with the competent court, specifying the facts, legal basis, evidence, and what they are requesting. The court fee (taxa de timbru) must be paid. The court communicates the claim to the defendant.
Written Procedure & First Hearing (Intampinare si prim termen)
The defendant files a response (intampinare) within the legal deadline. The plaintiff may file a reply. The judge sets the first hearing date and verifies procedural requirements. Evidence is proposed and approved.
Trial on the Merits (Judecata in fond)
The court examines evidence, hears witnesses and experts, and conducts oral debates. Both parties present their arguments. After deliberation, the court pronounces the decision (hotarare). This stage may take multiple hearings.
Appeal (Apel)
The losing party can appeal the decision within 30 days of notification. The appellate court re-examines the case on both facts and law. The appeal decision can be further challenged through recourse (recurs) on legal grounds only.
Recourse (Recurs)
Available only on points of law, the recourse is judged by the court above the appellate court (usually the High Court of Cassation and Justice). The recourse decision is final and irrevocable.
How to check your civil case online
Monitoring a civil case in Romania is simple with StatusDosar. You can search for any case registered in Romanian courts and receive automatic notifications whenever something changes — a new hearing, a decision, or a status update.
Visit the case search page, enter the case number and instantly access:
- ✓ Current stage and case status
- ✓ All hearings with dates and outcomes
- ✓ Parties involved (plaintiff, defendant, third parties)
- ✓ Court decisions, minutes, and appeal deadlines
Frequently asked questions
Stay informed about
your civil case
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