Professional lawyer fee simulator

Calculate your legal fees

Article 695 of the French Code of Civil Procedure defines costs as including :

1. Duties, taxes, fees or emoluments
2. Translation costs
3. Witness fees
4. Technicians’ fees
5. Emoluments of public officials
6. Bailiff’s fees
7. Pleading fees
8. Equivalent contribution (if not pleaded)

Costs (Art. 695 to 719 CPC)

## Who pays?
– Principle: losing party ordered to pay costs (Art. 696)
– Judge may share costs (Art. 697)
– Possible joint and several liability (Art. 697)

## Recovery
– Via detailed statement of costs (Art. 704)
– Requires writ of execution (judgment)
– Limitation period: 5 years

Article 700 of the CPC

## Principle
Allows you to request reimbursement of costs not included in the costs.

## What it covers
– Attorney’s fees
– Travel expenses
– Non-judicial expert fees
– Legal consultations
– Any other justified expenses

## Award criteria
The judge takes into account:
– Fairness
– The economic situation of the loser
– Does not depend on proof of fees
– Can be awarded even with legal aid

Official scales

## Fixed fees
– Pleading fee: 13€
– Legal aid contribution: 35€
– CARPA stamp: according to amount

## Fees
Calculated on the amount in dispute:
– < €1,000: 10%
– €1,000 to €10,000: 8%
– €10,000 to €50,000: 6%
– €50,000 to €100,000: 4%
– > €100,000: 2%

Practical tips

## To optimize repeatability
1. Keep all receipts
2. Itemize costs in pleadings
3. Put a precise figure on article 700
4. Update claims as necessary

##
1. Inform the customer in advance
2. Clear fee agreement
3. Regular statement of fees
4. Appropriate provisions

Points of attention

## Pitfalls to avoid
– Forgetting certain expense items
– Incorrectly qualifying expenses (expenses/700)
– Neglecting receipts
– Requesting non-repeatable expenses

## Best practices
1. Detailed statement of costs from the outset
2. Regular updates
3. Distinguish between costs and Article 700
4. Rigorous archiving of receipts

Essential texts to know

– Articles 695 to 719 CPC: costs
– Article 700 CPC: irrepeatable costs
– Articles 708 to 719: recovery
– Order of July 6, 2017: emoluments

Further information

## Useful case law
– Cass. 2e civ. July 8, 2004: irreducible costs
– Cass. 2e civ. December 21, 2017: free provision of article 700
– Cass. 2e civ. January 23, 2020: accumulation of AJ and article 700

## Ressources
– Guide CNBA des frais et dépens
– Fiches pratiques Légifrance
– Documentation des CARPA