New Civil Procedure Law: What Changes for Citizens and Businesses

On 3 July 2026, the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia adopted a new Law on Civil Procedure, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia no. 151/2026 of 8 July 2026.

The law establishes a new procedural framework for civil and commercial disputes and, upon the start of its application, will replace the Law on Civil Procedure of 2005 and its subsequent amendments.

Among the most important changes are the new rules for small claims, the concentration of facts and evidence in the early stage of the proceedings, qualified electronic service, the possibility of remote hearings, and the special procedure for the protection of collective interests and rights.

When does the new law start to apply?

The law entered into force on 16 July 2026, the eighth day after its publication, and it will start to apply upon the expiry of six months, that is, from 16 January 2027.

The provisions concerning hearings and the taking of evidence remotely, electronic documents, electronic service, the qualified electronic signature and digitized copies of court decisions and records will start to apply upon the expiry of 18 months from the law's entry into force, that is, from 16 January 2028.

Which rules will govern proceedings already pending?

For cases conducted before the start of application of the new law, a transitional rule is provided.

If by 16 January 2027 a first-instance judgment or a decision concluding the proceedings before the first-instance court has been rendered, the proceedings continue under the existing Law on Civil Procedure. However, if that first-instance decision is later set aside, the further proceedings will be conducted under the new law.

If by 16 January 2027 no first-instance decision concluding the proceedings has been rendered, the new rules will apply to the further course of the case.

Therefore, for determining the applicable law, what matters is not only the date on which the claim was filed, but also the stage the case will be at on 16 January 2027.

New thresholds for small claims

A small claim is a dispute in which the claim concerns a monetary demand not exceeding 200,000 denars. The previous general threshold was 180,000 denars.

A special threshold is provided for commercial disputes. For them, a small claim is a dispute in which the monetary demand does not exceed 500,000 denars, instead of the previous threshold of 300,000 denars.

Under certain conditions, disputes in which the claim is not monetary also qualify as small claims, including a claim for delivery of a movable item whose stated value does not exceed the applicable statutory threshold.

The small claims procedure is simplified and accelerated:

• as a rule it is conducted on the basis of written submissions;
• no preparatory hearing is held;
• the deadline for responding to the claim is only eight days;
• the claimant must present all facts and propose all evidence in the claim, and the defendant in the response to the claim;
• each party has the right to one more preparatory submission, within the deadlines set by the law;
• a main hearing is held if a party timely requests it or if the court finds that a hearing is necessary.

If the defendant does not file a response within the eight-day deadline, the claim is deemed admitted, following which the court may render a judgment if the statutory conditions are met.

The possibility of appeal is limited. A decision in a small claim may be challenged only for certain substantial violations of procedure and for erroneous application of substantive law, but not for incorrectly or incompletely established facts. Presenting the case correctly and completely already in the first submissions is therefore of particular importance.

Not considered small claims are disputes over real estate, status-related employment disputes, disputes over copyright and related rights, industrial property, use of a company name or designation, unfair competition, monopolistic conduct and disturbance of possession.

Facts and evidence must be prepared in time

In the general civil procedure as well, the law places strong emphasis on early and complete preparation of the case.

The deadline for a written response to the claim in the general procedure is 30 days. The court holds one preparatory hearing, and the parties are obliged, by that hearing at the latest, to present all facts on which they base their allegations, to propose the evidence, and to submit the documents and items they intend to use.

In practice, this means that contracts, invoices, electronic correspondence, minutes, payment confirmations and the remaining documentation should be secured immediately upon receiving a claim, or upon making the decision to initiate a dispute.

Late submission of evidence can seriously worsen a party's procedural position.

Qualified electronic service

One of the most significant changes in practice is qualified electronic registered service.

The service of court documents on attorneys, legal entities, state bodies, units of local self-government and persons exercising public authority will be performed at the electronic address registered in the trade register or in the register of other legal entities.

The same rule applies to natural persons performing a registered activity, where the service concerns that activity. Other natural persons may request the court to serve them electronically at the address stated in their request.

This is not merely sending an ordinary electronic message. Service is performed by a registered qualified trust service provider, in accordance with the rules on electronic documents, electronic identification and trust services.

Electronic service is deemed effected on the day the confirmation of receipt is received. If the electronic consignment is not retrieved within eight days of sending, service is deemed effected upon the expiry of the eighth day.

For businesses this means that procedural deadlines may start running even when the responsible person has not actually read the document. Monitoring the registered electronic address and establishing an internal procedure for urgent forwarding of court documents will therefore be necessary.

These rules will start to apply from 16 January 2028.

Will court hearings be held remotely?

Where the statutory conditions are met, the court will be able to decide that a hearing, or the taking of specific evidence, be conducted remotely through a closed information and communication system providing two-way communication and a real-time audio-visual display.

The audio-visual recording will constitute the record in electronic form.

Holding a hearing remotely will not be an automatic right of the parties. The court decides according to the circumstances of the particular case, and no separate appeal is allowed against that decision.

These provisions will also apply from 16 January 2028.

Collective actions and protection of a larger group of persons

The new law establishes a special procedure for the protection of collective interests and rights, including the collective rights and interests of consumers.

Actions may be brought by associations, foundations, institutions and other organizations which, within their registered or statutorily defined activity, engage in the protection of such interests. However, not every organization automatically has the right to bring a collective action: such authorization must be explicitly granted to it by law and the statutory conditions must be met.

Collective protection may concern:

• protection of the environment;
• prevention of discrimination;
• consumer rights;
• health rights;
• other collective interests and rights protected by law.

The action may seek a declaration that an infringement has occurred, a prohibition of certain conduct or business practice, a prohibition of the use of certain contractual terms, removal of the harmful consequences, and publication of the judgment in the media at the defendant's expense.

Under the statutory conditions, the court may also order interim measures to prevent irreparable harm. Collective actions are given priority in the proceedings.

Compensation of the damage suffered by the affected natural and legal persons is, as a rule, sought in separate civil proceedings. In those proceedings, they may rely on the legal findings of the judgment rendered in the collective action, and the court will be bound by those findings.

For businesses, this creates additional legal exposure regarding contracts with consumers, general terms and conditions, advertising and sales practices, protection from discrimination, health rights and the impact on the environment.

How should businesses and citizens prepare in time?

Before the new law starts to apply, it is advisable:

• to determine under which law pending court cases will continue;
• to forward court documents immediately to the responsible person or legal representative;
• to establish a system for regular monitoring of the registered electronic address;
• to keep contracts, invoices, electronic correspondence and other evidence systematically;
• to review general terms and conditions, consumer contracts and business practices;
• to set clear internal deadlines for action, especially because of the eight-day deadline in small claims;
• to seek legal assessment immediately upon receiving a claim, payment order or other court document.

The greatest practical risk stems from the short deadlines and from the possibility of losing important procedural rights if facts and evidence are not presented in time.

Related service: Corporate & Commercial Law Attorney

Source: Law on Civil Procedure, Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia no. 151/2026, act no. 2194.

This text is general legal information and does not constitute legal advice for a specific case. For advice tailored to your situation, consult an attorney.