Civil Procedure Code (CPC) Revision: Reduction Of Cost Barriers

Going to court is expensive. In addition to lawyers' fees, court costs (judgment fee, etc.) are also incurred with a few exceptions (namely in some cases in tenancy and labour law).

In principle, the procedural costs are imposed on the losing party. In addition to its own legal costs, it must pay the winning party compensation – as (partial) reimbursement for the latter's legal fees – as well as bear the court costs. If neither party wins outright, the costs are allocated in accordance with the outcome of the court proceedings. The legal costs are calculated according to cantonal tariffs; they can be considerable depending on the amount in dispute.

With the revision of the Swiss Civil Procedure Code (CPC) as of 1 January 2025, two significant adjustments will be made with regard to court costs.