Costs of legal proceedings under the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Costs of legal proceedings under the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in Vietnam from July 1, 2025​ (Image from Internet)

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs 05/2024/UBTVQH15 (hereinafter referred to as the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024) on December 11, 2024.

What are legal proceedings costs in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 2 of the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024, legal proceedings costs are necessary and reasonable expenses payable for carrying out procedural activities as determined by the competent authority based on this Ordinance and other relevant laws.

Costs of legal proceedings under the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

According to Article 3 of the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024, legal proceedings costs in the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024 include:

- Costs for on-site inspection and evaluation; on-site inspection costs;

- Asset valuation costs;

- Expert examination costs;

- Costs for Lay Judges;

- Costs for lawyers, legal aid providers, and people's advocates;

- Costs for witnesses and observers;

- Costs for interpreters and translators;

- Judicial delegation costs abroad;

- Costs for attending court sessions, meetings to resolve cases.

Standards for legal proceedings costs

Standards for legal proceedings costs according to Article 4 of the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024 are as follows:

- Remuneration for participants in procedural activities and judging allowances for Lay Judges are specified in the List of certain legal proceedings costs issued with the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024.

- Expenses for costs outside the provisions of Clause 1, Article 4 of the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024 are determined as follows:

+ For costs with existing policies, standards, and norms determined by competent state authorities, expenses are based on these policies, standards, and norms;

+ For service usage costs, information collection and analysis costs, consumable material costs, and other costs, expenses are based on actual occurrences on a contractual basis (if any), invoices, and documents as per legal regulations.

Regulations on handling complaints and denunciations regarding legal proceedings costs in Vietnam

The resolution of complaints and denunciations regarding legal proceedings costs is regulated in Article 13 of the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024 as follows:

- Agencies, organizations, and individuals have the right to complain to the Chief Justice of the Court handling the case within 03 working days from receiving the notification from the competent Court regarding the payment of advance legal proceedings costs and exemption or reduction of advance, exemption, reduction of costs for on-site consideration and assessment, expert costs.

The Chief Justice of the Court handling the case must resolve the complaint within 03 working days from receiving the complaint. The decision of the Chief Justice of the Court handling the case is the final decision.

- Complaints and resolutions regarding the obligation to pay legal proceedings costs in court judgments or decisions are conducted in accordance with procedural law.

- Denunciations and resolutions regarding denunciations about legal proceedings costs are carried out in accordance with legal provisions on denunciations.

The Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024 comes into effect from July 1, 2025.

The Ordinance on Costs of Examination, Valuation; Costs for Witnesses and Interpreters in Procedures 02/2012/UBTVQH13 ceases to be effective from the date the Ordinance on legal proceedings costs in 2024 comes into effect.

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