Overview
Who needs this?
- Individuals owed money or property who cannot settle privately
- Landlords and tenants with unresolved possession or rent disputes
- Families seeking partition or declaration of ownership
- Businesses enforcing a claim where mediation has failed
Requirements
You should be able to say yes to each of these before you start.
- The claim is filed within the limitation period set by the Civil Code for that type of dispute
- The plaintiff has a direct legal interest in the matter
- The case is filed in the District Court with territorial jurisdiction
- The claim is not already decided by another court or pending elsewhere
Where are you now?
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Stage 1 of 5 · Assessment
- 1Assessment
- 2Plaint
- 3Registration
- 4Mediation
- 5Judgment
I'm at this stage:
What typically comes next: Plaint — usually the step “Draft the plaint” below.Jump to the steps
Step-by-step procedure
- 1
Step 1
2–5 daysAssess the claim and limitation period
A lawyer reviews your evidence, confirms the legal basis and checks that the deadline for filing has not passed. Many otherwise strong cases fail simply because they are filed too late.
Legal advisor
Tip: Limitation periods differ by claim type; some are as short as 35 days from the event.
- 2
Step 2
3–7 daysDraft the plaint
The plaint sets out the parties, the facts, the legal grounds and the exact relief you want. It is signed by you and your advocate and attached to the evidence list.
Prepared by advocate
- 3
Step 3
1–2 daysRegister the case and pay the court fee
The registry checks the plaint for formal defects, accepts the court fee and assigns a case number. You receive a receipt and the date by which the defendant must be served.
District Court registry
- 4
Step 4
3–6 weeksService of summons and written reply
The court serves the defendant, who normally has 21 days to file a written reply. If the defendant cannot be found, the court may allow service by public notice.
District Court
- 5
Step 5
2–8 weeksMediation attempt
Civil cases are routinely referred to the court's mediation centre once the reply is in. A settlement here becomes an enforceable court order without a full trial.
Court-annexed Mediation Centre
Tip: Go in with a realistic bottom line; a fair settlement now often beats a better judgment years later.
- 6
Step 6
6–18 monthsEvidence, hearing and judgment
If mediation fails, the court records witness statements, examines documents and hears final arguments. The judgment is delivered in writing and either side may appeal to the High Court within the appeal period.
District Court
Documents required
Tick items off as you gather them.
0 of 7 ready · 5 required
Estimated cost
| Item | Typical range (NPR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | Rs. 500 – 50,000 | Court fee scales with the value of the claim; non-monetary claims pay a fixed fee. |
| Professional fee | Rs. 25,000 – 1,50,000 | Depends on complexity and the number of hearings. |
| Other expenses | Rs. 3,000 – 20,000 | Certified copies, photocopies, notarisation and travel. |
| Indicative total | Rs. 28,500 – 2,20,000 | Sum of the ranges above. |
Estimated timeline
6–24 months
Typical end-to-end duration once your documents are ready. Cases settled at mediation close much sooner.
Relevant laws
The provisions each stage of this procedure rests on.
Frequently asked questions
Related services
Need a hand?
Talk to a Legal Advisor about court filing
A 30-minute consultation is usually enough to confirm your documents, spot the step most likely to delay you and agree a plan.