“How long will it take and how much will it cost?” is the first question almost every client asks — and the one lawyers are most reluctant to answer with a single number. The honest answer depends on the type of case, the court, the behaviour of the other side and the evidence that has to be collected. What can be given is a realistic picture of how time and costs are structured in Bulgarian civil litigation, so that you can plan with open eyes.

What determines the length of a case

A Bulgarian civil case does not run as one continuous trial. It consists of an exchange of written submissions followed by a series of hearings, usually several weeks or months apart. The overall duration is driven by a handful of factors:

• The court. Courts in Sofia carry by far the heaviest caseload in the country, and hearings there are generally scheduled further ahead than in smaller towns.
• Service of documents. The case cannot move until the defendant has been properly served. If the defendant lives abroad or avoids service, this stage alone can take months.
• Evidence. Each expert report — a valuation, an accounting analysis, a psychological assessment in a custody case — typically adds at least one further hearing.
• The number of instances. A case that ends at first instance is a very different undertaking from one that goes through appeal and cassation.

Indicative timelines

The following ranges reflect what is commonly seen in practice. They are orientation, not a promise.

• Divorce by mutual consent. When the spouses have agreed on everything, the court holds a single hearing and approves the settlement. From filing to a final decision this usually takes between one and three months.
• Contested divorce. With disputes over fault, children or the home, the first instance often takes between six months and a year; an appeal adds several more months.
• Parental responsibility and maintenance. Comparable to a contested divorce. The court may order interim measures for the duration of the case, so that the child’s situation is regulated from the start.
• Partition of inherited or co-owned property. Judicial partition runs in two phases and regularly requires valuations. One and a half to three years across the instances is not unusual.
• Ownership and other property disputes. Similar to partition — these are evidence-heavy cases that often reach the Supreme Court of Cassation.
• Undisputed money claims. The order-for-payment procedure allows a creditor to obtain an enforceable order within weeks if the debtor does not object.

Can a slow case be speeded up?

There are some tools. A party may ask the higher court to set a deadline when a procedural step is unreasonably delayed. Bulgarian law also provides a compensation mechanism for proceedings that exceeded a reasonable time. More useful in practice, however, are the things within the parties’ own control: filing complete evidence with the statement of claim, giving the court a reliable address for service, appointing a representative who can attend every hearing, and considering settlement early.

The cost components

Litigation costs in Bulgaria fall into four groups. Since Bulgaria joined the euro area on 1 January 2026, all court fees are set and paid in euro.

1. State fees

A state fee is payable when a claim is filed. For claims with a monetary value the fee is proportional — 4% of the value of the claim at first instance, subject to a statutory minimum — and half of that rate on appeal. For claims concerning real estate the value is calculated on the basis of the property’s tax valuation, which is usually well below its market price. For matters that have no monetary value, such as divorce, the fees are fixed and modest; in a divorce an additional fee is set when the judgment is given, and a further fee is charged on any agreed maintenance and on property divided by the settlement.

2. Lawyer’s fees

Attorney’s fees are agreed freely between lawyer and client in a written engagement agreement — as a fixed fee per instance, an hourly rate or a combination. The Supreme Bar Council publishes a schedule of recommended minimum fees by type and value of case, which serves as a reference point for the profession and for the courts when they assess costs. A reputable lawyer will give you a written fee proposal covering each instance before you commit.

3. Experts, witnesses and other evidence

The party that requests an expert report pays a deposit set by the court. A property valuation or a handwriting analysis is relatively inexpensive; complex accounting or technical reports cost more. Deposits are also paid for summoning witnesses and for certain court certificates.

4. Translations, apostilles and travel

For foreign parties this is a real budget line. Every foreign-language document must be filed with a certified Bulgarian translation; public documents usually need an apostille from the country of issue; and a power of attorney signed abroad must be notarised and apostilled. Travel can largely be avoided by proper representation, but should be planned for where personal attendance is required.

Who pays in the end?

Bulgarian procedure follows the “loser pays” principle. The court orders the unsuccessful party to reimburse the winner’s costs — state fees, expert deposits and lawyer’s fees — in proportion to the outcome. If you win 70% of your claim, you recover roughly 70% of your costs and bear a share of the other side’s. Two caveats apply. First, the court may reduce an opponent’s lawyer’s fee that is excessive in relation to the complexity of the case, so full recovery is not guaranteed. Second, a costs order is only as good as the debtor’s ability to pay.

In divorce cases the rules are specific: in a mutual-consent divorce the spouses share the costs as agreed, and in a contested divorce costs are borne by the spouse found at fault, or shared if no fault is established.

Ways to keep time and costs under control

• Settle what can be settled. A court-approved settlement ends the case immediately and has the force of a final judgment; half of the state fee paid is refunded.
• Use mediation. Mediation is available alongside court proceedings and is particularly effective in family and inheritance disputes, where relationships continue after the case.
• Choose the right procedure. A mutual-consent divorce, a voluntary partition before a notary or an order-for-payment application may achieve the same result as a full trial in a fraction of the time.
• Front-load the preparation. Collecting documents, translations and apostilles before filing avoids the adjournments that make cases long and expensive.
• Ask about legal aid. People with insufficient means may apply for state-funded legal aid and for exemption from court fees.

What to ask before you start

Before engaging a lawyer for a case in Bulgaria, ask for three things in writing: an assessment of the likely stages of the case, a fee proposal for each stage, and an estimate of the third-party costs — state fees, experts, translations. With those three figures you will know not just what the law says about your position, but what it will take to enforce it.

Last reviewed: November 2026. This article provides general information about Bulgarian law and is not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts and documents.

Need advice on a specific situation? Contact Rositsa Astakova, Attorney-at-Law in Sofia — consultations are available in English, Spanish and Bulgarian, in person or remotely.