Timeframes for Civil Case Proceedings in Georgian Courts
Find out how long legal proceedings in Georgia take by law and in practice. A full breakdown of timeframes for the first instance, appeals, cassation, and enforcement of judgments.
23 June 2025
For many clients—both individuals and businesses—the question of how long a court process in Georgia actually takes becomes key when deciding whether to go to court or seek other ways of resolving a conflict.
We have compiled in this article all procedural timeframes established by the Civil Procedure Code of Georgia and the Law on Enforcement Proceedings, as well as added a realistic commentary on how often these deadlines are followed in practice. This will be useful for both those already involved in litigation and those evaluating the prospects of a dispute.
We have compiled in this article all procedural timeframes established by the Civil Procedure Code of Georgia and the Law on Enforcement Proceedings, as well as added a realistic commentary on how often these deadlines are followed in practice. This will be useful for both those already involved in litigation and those evaluating the prospects of a dispute.
First Instance: Beginning of Proceedings
Acceptance of the claim into proceedings — 5 working days (Art. 186 CPC)
Consideration of a motion to secure a claim — 1 day
Review of a motion for injunctive relief — 1 day (Art. 193)
Notification of the defendant about the filing of the claim — up to 2 months (if the claim is submitted by a legal entity or an attorney) (Art. 184)
Deadline for the defendant to submit objections to the claim (Art. 201)
— up to 14 days (general period)
— up to 21 days (if the case is deemed complex by the court)
Timeframe for the substantive hearing of the case (Art. 59)
— up to 2 months from the date of submission of the claim
— up to 5 months — by special court decision, if the case is complex
Special cases — expedited procedure:
Issuing a decision: (Art. 257)
Consideration of a motion to secure a claim — 1 day
Review of a motion for injunctive relief — 1 day (Art. 193)
Notification of the defendant about the filing of the claim — up to 2 months (if the claim is submitted by a legal entity or an attorney) (Art. 184)
Deadline for the defendant to submit objections to the claim (Art. 201)
— up to 14 days (general period)
— up to 21 days (if the case is deemed complex by the court)
Timeframe for the substantive hearing of the case (Art. 59)
— up to 2 months from the date of submission of the claim
— up to 5 months — by special court decision, if the case is complex
Special cases — expedited procedure:
- No later than 1 month for cases on:
- alimony collection
- compensation for health damage
- death of a breadwinner
- labor disputes
- cases under the Housing Law
- disputes regarding recovery of real estate from unlawful possession
Issuing a decision: (Art. 257)
- Operative part — within 1 month
- Full text of the decision — within 14 days
- Receipt of the decision by the parties — between the 20th and 30th day after announcement
Appealing a Decision: Appeal
Deadline for appeal:
Timeframe for review of the appeal:
— up to 2 months
— up to 5 months, if the case is recognized as complex (by separate court ruling)
Issuing the decision on appeal:
Cassation appeal — within 21 days (Art. 397)
- Default judgment — 10 days (Art. 237)
- Judgment on the merits — 14 days (Art. 369)
Timeframe for review of the appeal:
— up to 2 months
— up to 5 months, if the case is recognized as complex (by separate court ruling)
Issuing the decision on appeal:
- Operative part — within 1 month
- Full text — within 14 days
- Receipt — between the 20th and 30th day after announcement (Art. 257)
Cassation appeal — within 21 days (Art. 397)
Cassation Instance
Timeframe for review of the cassation complaint
Issuing the decision:
- up to 6 months (general rule) (Art. 390)
- if the dispute concerns recovery of real estate from unlawful possession — up to 2 months
Issuing the decision:
- Operative part — within 1 month
- Full text — within 1 month
- Receipt — between the 20th and 30th day (Art. 257)
When Does a Court Decision Enter into Force?
A decision of the court of first instance enters into force:
- Immediately — if it is not subject to appeal
- After the expiration of the appeal deadline — if it is not appealed
- After the issuance of the appellate court’s ruling — if an appeal was filed
- From the moment the parties refuse to appeal in writing
- If not appealed — after 21 days
- If appealed — after review of the cassation complaint
- Immediately — if the parties refused cassation
Enforcement Stage
Time limit for submitting a writ of execution — up to 10 years from the issuance of the decision
Enforcement proceedings — 2 years with the possibility of extension for 1 year (maximum — 10 years) (upon the creditor’s motion and payment of a 200 GEL state fee)
Voluntary compliance — from 7 to 10 days from the moment the proposal is received from the bailiff
Enforcement proceedings — 2 years with the possibility of extension for 1 year (maximum — 10 years) (upon the creditor’s motion and payment of a 200 GEL state fee)
Voluntary compliance — from 7 to 10 days from the moment the proposal is received from the bailiff
What’s Important to Consider?
By law:
If we summarize all procedural deadlines, the entire process from filing a claim to completion of the cassation stage may take up to 13 months.
In practice:
The entire process can take 3 to 5 times longer, especially if the case is complex, the court is overloaded, or the parties actively use all available defense tools.
If we summarize all procedural deadlines, the entire process from filing a claim to completion of the cassation stage may take up to 13 months.
In practice:
The entire process can take 3 to 5 times longer, especially if the case is complex, the court is overloaded, or the parties actively use all available defense tools.
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MARIA GUSEINOVA
Leading Manager of Commercial Department
Leading Manager of Commercial Department