Latest news and stories about court fees in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Constitutional Court has ruled that charging court fees to individuals earning less than the minimum wage is unconstitutional, as it infringes upon the fundamental right to access justice and threatens a dignified standard of living.
The ruling deems three provisions of the Law on Access to Law and Courts unconstitutional, as reported by Público. The decision follows a request from the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The Portuguese state is now prohibited from collecting court fees from individuals whose remaining income falls below the national minimum wage.
The Government proposal in question seeks to introduce amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and, relatedly, to the Regulation of Court Fees, with a view to expediting proceedings.
