Frequently Asked Questions

During the initial consultation, the lawyer will listen to your problem, assess the available documents in advance and suggest possible solutions, including a cost estimate. In order to use the time efficiently, it is ideal to bring with you all the relevant documents (contracts, correspondence with the counterparty, decisions of the authorities) and ideally a brief written summary of events sorted by time. The more information an attorney is given at the beginning, the more precise strategy he can propose.

The lawyer's remuneration is most often determined by agreement (so-called contractual remuneration), which can be hourly, fixed for the whole case, or fractional (a percentage of the amount recovered). If you do not agree on the price, the remuneration is automatically governed by the so-called lawyer's tariff (decree of the Ministry of Justice), which is based on the value of the dispute. You should always know in advance in which way the service will be charged.

Yes, the lawyer is legally bound by the obligation of confidentiality about all facts learned in connection with the provision of legal services. This obligation is very strict and protects you even from state authorities. An attorney may not disclose your information to any third party without your express consent. The obligation of confidentiality continues after the end of the representation.

In most cases, especially in civil disputes, a lawyer will fully represent you on the basis of a power of attorney, and your personal participation in the proceedings is not required. Thus, you can avoid stress as well as meeting with the opposite party. Exceptions are when the court orders your interrogation as a party to the proceedings — in which case you must appear, but the lawyer will be there with you to supervise the progress of the interrogation.

In the event of success in the dispute, the court, as a rule, awards reimbursement of the costs of the proceedings, which the losing party must pay to the winner. However, this compensation is calculated not according to what you actually paid to your lawyer, but according to the lawyer's tariff tables. Therefore, it may happen that the reimbursement awarded does not cover 100% of your real costs or, on the contrary, will be higher.

Yes, modern advocacy is moving to the online environment. Many matters, such as checking contracts, consulting, or writing pre-lawsuit challenges, can be resolved via email or video call without the need for a physical visit to the office. However, for some specific actions (e.g. signature verification), personal contact may still be necessary.

If you prove that you do not have sufficient resources, you can ask the court to appoint a representative, or contact the Czech Bar Association (ČAK), which can appoint a lawyer to provide you with free legal advice (in the range of min. 15 minutes, max. 120 minutes per year). In criminal proceedings, in the case of a so-called necessary defense (e.g. custody), the court will assign you an ex offo defense attorney.

Yes, the amendment to the Labor Code introduced the right to vacation even for “conciliators”. The claim arises if the agreement lasts continuously for at least 4 weeks (28 days) in a calendar year and at the same time you work at least 80 hours. The calculation is based on the so-called fictitious weekly working time, which is set by law at 20 hours per week, regardless of your actual schedule. If you do not use the vacation, the employer must reimburse you after the end of the agreement.

From October 2024, there was a major change in the Insolvency Act, which reduces the period of debt relief for all natural persons from 5 years to 3 years. The condition for repayment of at least 30% of unsecured creditors' claims has been abolished. Newly, the court assesses whether the debtor achieves the so-called “Adequate income” in view of their abilities and capabilities. At the same time, supervisory conditions have been tightened and the time limit for possible repeated deleveraging has been extended.

Many buyers mistakenly believe that after signing the contract they can no longer afford anything. However, according to the Civil Code, the seller is responsible for hidden defects up to 5 years from the acquisition of the right of ownership. If the defect (e.g. moisture, static, poor insulation) did not manifest itself during the inspection and existed already at the time of receipt, you are entitled to a discount on the purchase price or the elimination of the defect. Provisions in contracts such as “stand and lie” are often ineffective against consumers.

An increase in rent is possible either by agreement or on the basis of an inflation clause, which, however, must be specifically agreed in the contract and refer to a certain index of consumer prices. If the clause is missing, the lessor may propose an increase up to the amount of the comparable rent in the usual place, but by a maximum of 20% in total for the last 3 years. This limit protects tenants from skyrocketing prices.

The term “online divorce” usually means that a lawyer prepares all documentation remotely, however, the divorce stand itself in court, as a rule, requires personal participation, unless there are specific exceptions. The court fee for filing for divorce is CZK 2,000. If the spouses do not agree on a settlement of the joint property of the spouses (SJM) and resolve it in court, the settlement fee is also CZK 2,000, plus any additional costs for expert opinions in the valuation of real estate,.

Due to technical difficulties with Digital Construction Management (DSR), the legislation introduced transitional periods and the so-called. “bypass”. Builders may, in certain cases, submit documentation in paper form or through legacy systems if the builder's portal does not function properly. It is advisable to always consult the form of submission with the specific building authority in advance, so as not to delay the procedure due to formal deficiencies.

2025 is a turning point for non-financial reporting (ESG). The obligation to publish sustainability reports extends to large companies, indirectly affecting their suppliers, after whom the data will be required. In addition, the Whistleblowing Act requires companies with more than 50 employees to have an internal reporting system in place to report infringements. Failure to comply with these obligations can lead to high penalties.