How much does an appeal cost?
A court fee is charged for processing a case in court. Before the Supreme Administrative Court, the court fee is EUR 610. In an appeal, the fee for a case decided by the Market Court may be higher.
The court fee is the same regardless whether the case concerns leave to appeal, an appeal or an extraordinary appeal. A court fee is also charged when the Supreme Administrative Court does not grant the appellant leave to appeal.
The amount of the court fee is laid down by a decree of the Ministry of Justice. (the decree is only in Finnish and Swedish)
The referendary of the case sets the court fee. The Supreme Administrative Court invoices the court fee once the decision has been issued.
When is the fee not charged?
If you have been granted legal aid, you are not required to pay a court fee. Neither is a fee charged if the Supreme Administrative Court changes the decision subject to appeal in your favour.
However, in appeals concerning preliminary rulings issued in tax matters and decisions made by the Market Court, the fee is charged regardless of the outcome.
No court fees are charged in cases where the law stipulates that proceedings are free of charge. These include, for example, most cases concerning social and health services brought by private individuals, cases concerning basic income support, cases under the Child Welfare Act and the Mental Health Act, cases concerning international protection and cases concerning general elections.
Where it would be manifestly unreasonable to charge a fee, the authority or the official imposing the fee may, in an individual case, order that no fee be charged.
Request for an administrative review of a court fee
If you believe that an error has been made in the assessment of the fee, you may request an administrative review from the referendary who set the fee within six months of the date of its setting.
Submit a reasoned request for an administrative review to the Supreme Administrative Court within the deadline.
Liability for the legal costs of the opposing party
A party to legal proceedings may incur costs, for example in respect of paying legal counsel’s fees, travelling to a hearing and paying witness fees. As a general rule, each party to the proceedings bears their own costs incurred in connection with the proceedings.
A party may also be ordered to pay all or part of the costs of the opposing party. A private individual may be ordered to pay a public authority’s legal costs only in exceptional cases, primarily where the court considers that the individual abused their right of appeal.
To be reimbursed for costs, a claim must be submitted. If you are claiming reimbursement of costs, you must submit a claim for them at the same time as submitting your application for leave to appeal and your appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court. The Supreme Administrative Court may order that the cost be reimbursed in full or in part.
Where can I get legal aid?
Legal aid is available for court proceedings. Legal aid is provided from public funds to persons who require expert assistance in a legal matter and who, due to their financial circumstances, are unable to cover the costs of such assistance themselves.
Legal aid comprises legal advice, necessary measures and counselling in court and with other public authorities, as well as exemption from certain costs associated with processing the case, as provided for in the Legal Aid Act.
Legal aid may be applied for at any stage of the proceedings until the case in court has become final or the proceedings have been concluded. Legal aid is available in all courts processing the case. An exception to the above is an extraordinary appeal for which a separate legal aid decision must be obtained.
You can apply for legal aid from the Legal Aid Office. For more information on legal aid, please contact the National Legal Services Authority.
If you are acting as legal counsel
Please submit any invoice for legal counsel’s fees via the e-service for legal aid (the so-called Romeo system) at the same time as the application for leave to appeal and the petition of appeal. If you submit your invoice only after the case has been concluded, the Supreme Administrative Court cannot, in accordance with established case law, order the payment of fees and expenses at that stage. The Supreme Administrative Court inquires about any invoices no more than once.
If your invoice includes costs that have already been incurred, please submit the relevant supporting documentation (e.g. an interpreting invoice) immediately, together with the invoice. Where possible, an interpreting invoice should include the following details: the name and/or client number of the person being interpreted for, the interpreter’s name, the languages involved and the date and time of the interpreting assignment.
If legal aid has been granted subject to a deductible, please note in the Romeo system that the client has accepted this. Forward their statement regarding the invoice together with the invoice itself, or a note stating that, as their legal counsel, you do not require the client to be ordered to pay the deductible.