Before you file a statement of claim, find out what access to court will cost you. From January 1, 2024, Law No. 213/2023 on the State Fee completely changed the scale for monetary claims. I show you the rules in force in 2026, with examples that you can check in my free state-fee calculator.
What the state fee is and when you pay it
You pay the state fee when you ask the court to examine a claim: collection of a debt, compensation for damage, a challenge to an enforceable title, or another monetary claim. Attach proof of payment to your claim. Without it, the court may leave your claim without progress.
The amount depends on the value of the claim, meaning the amount that you request. For an appeal, a cassation appeal, or a revision, you pay a percentage of the fee based on the amount that you challenge.
The scale for monetary claims
The new law calculates the fee in brackets. Each bracket has a fixed amount and a percentage that applies only to the part above the threshold.
| Claim value | State fee |
|---|---|
| up to 5,000 lei | 5%, with a minimum of 150 lei for individuals and 250 lei for legal entities |
| 5,001 to 50,000 lei | 250 lei plus 4% of the amount above 5,000 lei |
| 50,001 to 1,500,000 lei | 2,050 lei plus 3% of the amount above 50,000 lei |
| 1,500,001 to 5,000,000 lei | 45,550 lei plus 2% of the amount above 1,500,000 lei |
| 5,000,001 to 10,000,000 lei | 115,550 lei plus 1% of the amount above 5,000,000 lei |
| over 10,000,000 lei | 165,550 lei plus 0.5% of the amount above 10,000,000 lei |
The old law capped the fee at 25,000 lei for individuals. The new law removed the cap, so large claims cost you significantly more.
Three concrete examples
You claim a debt of 10,000 lei. You pay 250 + 4% × 5,000 = 450 lei.
You claim a debt of 100,000 lei. You pay 2,050 + 3% × 50,000 = 3,550 lei.
You claim 3,000,000 lei. You pay 45,550 + 2% × 1,500,000 = 75,550 lei.
Appeal, cassation appeal, and revision
When you challenge the judgment, you pay another fee based on the amount that you challenge:
- appeal: 85% of the state fee;
- cassation appeal: 70% of the state fee;
- revision: 55% of the state fee.
If you lose a case worth 100,000 lei and appeal the entire amount, you pay 85% of 3,550, which equals 3,017.50 lei.
The 200 lei stamp fee
Law No. 213/2023 on the State Fee also introduced a 200 lei stamp fee. You pay it once when you start a civil or administrative litigation case. You pay it separately from the state fee.
Through Decision No. 20 of September 26, 2024, the Constitutional Court allowed the court to exempt you from the stamp fee, postpone your payment, or let you pay in instalments based on your financial situation. In the same decision, the court removed the restriction on recovering the stamp fee from the party that loses the case.
Who does not pay the state fee
Annex No. 2 to the law lists the exemptions. The most common include:
- individuals in claims for reinstatement at work and recovery of salary that the employer did not pay;
- claims for collection of child support;
- claims for protection of consumer rights;
- minors in cases about protecting their rights.
Check the complete list before you pay. If you claim an exemption without grounds, your case may take longer.
How you pay
Pay online through MPay or at a bank, into the account of the court where you file your claim. Keep proof of payment and attach it to your claim.
Do you recover the fee if you win?
Usually, the losing party reimburses your court costs, including the state fee. Ask for this expressly in your statement of claim.
What to do next
Calculate the exact amount in the state-fee calculator. If you want to collect a debt, read how I work with contracts, debt, and enforcement or book a consultation. I will check with you whether the case makes sense, what evidence you have, and what amount you can claim.
The guide gives you general information as of the update date. Book a consultation for advice about your case.
