Court Fees in Jordan

Court fees are the charges levied for filing lawsuits in Jordan. The specific fee amount is determined by the official court fee schedule, which outlines fees for various types of cases. When a lawsuit is initiated, a specified sum is paid to the court handling the legal matter, and this amount is deposited with the court registry. These fees are governed by both legal statutes and general legal principles.

What Are Court Fees?

Court fees are the financial charges imposed for a lawsuit that is scheduled to be heard by the court. These fees are paid when registering or filing the lawsuit with the court.

Determining Court Fees

The court fee payable for a lawsuit is determined based on the nature of the case. The financial value of the lawsuit is a key factor in calculating the fees.

In cases where the financial value is not predetermined, the judge may estimate the court fees. In appeal or privilege cases, the judge will assess the fee amount, and the plaintiff is obligated to pay it.

Multiple Claims in a Single Lawsuit

If a lawsuit involves more than one claim, the court fees paid will cover all claims within that lawsuit.

If there is a counterclaim within the lawsuit, the court fees will also cover it, unless the counterclaim is filed as a separate case.

In cases where a lawsuit is dismissed but refiled within six months, the plaintiff is required to pay half the original court fees. If the lawsuit is refiled after more than six months, the full court fee must be paid again.

Court Fee Regulations

According to Article 6 of the Court Fee System:

No legal document, claim, or other document subject to court fees can be used unless the fee has been paid in advance, except in cases where the party has been legally exempted from paying the fee. The court president may also decide to postpone the payment of fees at their discretion.

General legal principles dictate that legal texts must be interpreted to understand the intent and purpose of the legislator, ensuring that the legal meaning of the text is clear.

In Articles 5 and 6 of the Court Fee System, the legislator has defined the court fees that must be paid for lawsuits and related requests in both first instance courts and appellate courts.

According to Article 22 of the court fee schedule, the fees for appellate cases are collected according to the same rules as those for first instance courts, with the fee amount depending on the value of the appellate case.

If the appellate court reviews an appellate case and only the fee paid by the appellant is considered, without the payment of the initial court fees by the specified deadline, the decision may be deemed premature.

Reimbursement of Court Fees

If the court issues a judgment against the defendant, the court fees and other lawsuit-related expenses are added to the amount awarded, and these fees are collected from the judgment amount without requiring a separate ruling.

Court Fees in Conciliation Cases

For conciliation cases, court fees are calculated at a rate of 3% of the lawsuit’s value. The fee must not be less than ten Jordanian Dinars and must not exceed the upper limit set for primary cases, unless otherwise specified.

Court Fees in Primary Cases

For primary cases, the court charges a fee of 3% on the first ten thousand Jordanian Dinars, 2% on the next ten thousand, and 1% on any amount exceeding that, up to 200 Jordanian Dinars. The total court fee should not exceed 1,200 Jordanian Dinars.

Fees for Indeterminate Cases

• Conciliation Cases: The court fees are estimated by the Conciliation Judge and should not be less than ten Jordanian Dinars or more than fifty Jordanian Dinars.
• Primary Cases: The fee is determined by the court president or their delegate and should not be less than twenty-five Jordanian Dinars or more than two hundred Jordanian Dinars.

Fees for Rental Disputes

In rental disputes, whether concerning the delivery or evacuation of rented property, the court fee is calculated at 3% of the annual rental value, with a minimum fee of ten Jordanian Dinars and a maximum of one thousand Jordanian Dinars.

Fees for Dispossession or Partition Lawsuits

A fee of 2% of the value of the immovable property is charged, with a minimum fee of twenty Jordanian Dinars and a maximum of two hundred Jordanian Dinars.

Criminal Conciliation Judgments Fees

A fee of 10% of the fine imposed is charged. In the case of a prison sentence, a fee of 100 fils per week of the sentence is applied. Any part of a week is considered a full week.

Fees for Primary Criminal Judgments

A fee of 10% of the imposed fine is charged. In the case of a prison sentence, a fee of one Jordanian Dinar per month is applied. Any part of a month is considered a full month.

Additional Expenses in Primary Criminal Judgments

Additional expenses, such as expert and medical fees, witness expenses, and costs incurred due to multiple defendants, may be added to the court fees.

Fees for Frivolous Lawsuits

A plaintiff filing a frivolous lawsuit must pay a fee of no less than fifty Jordanian Dinars and no more than one hundred Jordanian Dinars, in addition to any investigation expenses and costs incurred by the defendant due to the complaint.

Personal Rights Claim Fees

Fees for personal rights claims are collected in accordance with criminal lawsuits and the fees applicable in primary civil cases. A plaintiff cannot appear before the court as a personal rights claimant until the required fees have been paid.

Fees for Defendants Acquitted of Charges

If a person is acquitted of the charges against them, no fees or costs are imposed on the acquitted party. However, the court may require the plaintiff to pay court fees ranging from ten to one hundred Jordanian Dinars, along with any other expenses incurred during the case.

For more information about court fees based on the value and type of your case, our experienced lawyers are ready to assist you with legal advice and guidance tailored to your needs.