Civil procedure changes on 01.01.2027: higher simplified-procedure limit, silence means consent to written procedure

On 01.01.2027 a package of amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure (tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik, TsMS) enters into force. A proprietary claim can be heard in simplified proceedings if its value does not exceed 5000 euros for the principal claim and 10 000 euros together with collateral claims [1] (previously 3500 and 7000 euros [2]); the rules on written proceedings, procedural costs and payment orders for consumer credit claims also change.

What changes

• TsMS § 405 lg 1 (simplified proceedings): the limit was an amount that „arvestatuna põhinõudelt vastab 3500 eurole ja koos kõrvalnõuetega 7000 eurole“ (translation: corresponds to 3500 euros for the principal claim and 7000 euros together with collateral claims) [2]; the new limit is „5000 eurole ja koos kõrvalnõuetega 10 000 eurole“ (translation: 5000 euros and 10 000 euros together with collateral claims) [1]. In simplified proceedings the court may now also „asendada protokoll toimikule lisatava heli- või videosalvestisega koos automaatselt genereeritud sisukokkuvõttega või ilma selleta“ (translation: replace the record with an audio or video recording added to the file, with or without an automatically generated summary) [1].
• TsMS § 403 lg 3 (written proceedings): previously „Kui pool ei ole kohtule teatanud, kas ta on nõus kirjaliku menetlusega, eeldatakse, et ta soovib asja läbivaatamist kohtuistungil.“ (translation: if a party has not informed the court whether it agrees to written proceedings, it is presumed to want a hearing) [3] → now „Kui pool ei ole kohtule teatanud, kas ta on nõus kirjaliku menetlusega või soovib asja läbivaatamist kohtuistungil, eeldatakse, et ta on nõus ka kirjaliku menetlusega.“ (translation: if a party has not informed the court whether it agrees to written proceedings or wants a hearing, it is presumed to agree to written proceedings) [4]
• TsMS § 176 lg 1 and lg 8 (procedural costs): the list of costs used to be submitted „enne kohtuvaidlusi“ (translation: before closing arguments), and the court set the deadline for the costs of the last hearing [5]. Now the list „esitab menetlusosaline kolme tööpäeva jooksul arvates kohtuistungist, kus lõpetati asja arutamine“ (translation: is submitted by the party within three working days of the hearing at which the hearing of the case ended) [6]. Parties respond to the other side's costs „kolme tööpäeva jooksul“ (translation: within three working days) unless the court has set a different deadline [6] (previously the court set a deadline of up to seven days [5]).
• TsMS § 481 lg 2⁴ and lg 2⁵ (consumer credit claims in expedited payment order proceedings): the creditor may claim „üksnes tarbijale antud krediidi põhisumma tagastamist“ (translation: only repayment of the principal of the credit granted to the consumer) with interest or late interest at the statutory rate if not higher than agreed; the consumer's payments are applied „esimeses järjekorras põhivõla, teises järjekorras intressi ja kolmandas järjekorras viivise katteks“ (translation: first to the principal, second to interest and third to late interest) [7].
• TsMS § 483 lg 1: the deadline for deciding a payment order application is still ten working days [8], but for a claim under a consumer credit agreement it is „kahekümne tööpäeva jooksul“ (translation: within twenty working days) [9].
• TsMS § 484²: in payment order proceedings the court awards the applicant, instead of the previous 20 euros [10], 50 euros for procedural costs [11].
• TsMS § 415 lg 2 (application to set aside a default judgment): the previous sentence „Kui tagaseljaotsus toimetatakse kätte avalikult, võib kaja esitada 30 päeva jooksul alates päevast, kui kostja sai tagaseljaotsusest või selle täitmiseks algatatud täitemenetlusest teada.“ (translation: where a default judgment is served by public announcement, the application may be filed within 30 days of the day the defendant learned of the judgment or of enforcement proceedings to enforce it) is removed [12]. The rule that remains is „Kaja võib esitada tagaseljaotsuse kättetoimetamisest alates 30 päeva jooksul.“ (translation: the application may be filed within 30 days of service of the default judgment) [13]. For a default judgment made before 01.01.2027 and served by public announcement, the previous rule still applies [14].
• TsMS § 182 lg 2 p 1 (procedural aid): aid is not granted if the costs do not exceed the applicant's „kahekordset keskmist ühe kuu sissetulekut“ (translation: twice the average monthly income) [15]; in the new wording the threshold is „kolmekordset keskmist ühe kuu sissetulekut“ (translation: three times the average monthly income) [16].

Many other TsMS provisions were amended as well.

Who is affected

Parties to civil proceedings and their representatives [1] [4] [6], creditors filing consumer credit claims in payment order proceedings and their debtors [7] [9], defendants against whom a default judgment is made [13], and applicants for procedural aid [16].

What to do

1. If you do not want written proceedings, tell the court clearly that you want a hearing [4].
2. Prepare your list of costs so that you can submit it within three working days after the last hearing [6].
3. A payment order application for a consumer credit claim must be accompanied by „nõude aluseks olev leping, sealhulgas maksegraafik“ (translation: the contract on which the claim is based, including the payment schedule) and an overview of the drawdown of credit and of payments [17].