Poland’s Ministry of Justice has updated mediator fee regulations, with rates doubling or more for civil proceedings.
New Fee Structure for Property Cases
In property rights cases where the value of the subject matter does not exceed 200,000 złoty, the minimum fee for conducting mediation will increase from 150 to 300 złoty, and the maximum from 2,000 to 4,000 złoty.
For cases with a value above 200,000 zł, the mediator’s fee will be 4,000 zł plus 1% of the amount exceeding 200,000 zł, but not more than 8,000 zł for the entire mediation proceeding.
Higher Rates for Non-Property Cases
In non-property cases and those where the value of the subject matter cannot be determined, the rate for the first mediation session will increase from 150 to 300 zł, and for each subsequent session from 100 to 200 zł.
The total fee limit in these cases has been increased from 450 to 900 zł.
Increased Expense Reimbursements
The limits for reimbursable expenses have been increased – in the case of material expenses such as room rental, reimbursement will be raised from 70 to 110 zł.
Reimbursement for mediator’s correspondence expenses will be 50 zł, instead of the previously applicable 30 zł.
Economic Justification for Changes
According to the ministry, the changes result from the need to adapt current regulations to changing economic conditions, including rising living costs, inflation, and increasing costs of running a business.
Vice Minister of Justice Arkadiusz Myrcha emphasized that the rate amounts have not been changed since 2016.
Context of Civil Court Cases
According to Ministry of Justice data for 2024, a significant portion of incoming cases to district courts in first instance are civil cases of high complexity and substantial value, particularly in the ranges of 75,000-150,000 zł (26,689 cases), 150,000-200,000 zł (18,964 cases), 200,000-500,000 zł (62,649 cases), and 500,000-1 million zł (21,094 cases).
