Check if you are eligible for legal aid.
In France, you may be able to apply for “aide juridique” (legal aid) if your income is low. If you have legal protection insurance (through your home insurance, car insurance, etc.), please contact them. Choose the right jurisdiction:
- Judicial Court: for civil disputes
- Labor Council: for labour disputes
- Commercial Court: for commercial disputes
- Administrative Court: in the event of a dispute with the government.
If necessary, an appeal can be filed with the Court of Appeal.
Ensure a well-structured file or dossier.
Collect evidence: contracts, emails, photos, witness statements.
Have all documents professionally translated if necessary, especially if they are not in French.
Please be aware of limitation periods. These periods vary depending on the type of dispute: generally 5 years in civil cases and shorter in some cases (e.g., 2 years for consumer cases).
For international disputes, you can also contact:
The Dutch or Belgian Embassy or Consulate in France.
The European Consumer Centre (ECC) for cross-border consumer cases.
Need help communicating about a legal dispute or problem with the (local) authorities?
Ask your question here and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
