How to obtain a copy of a court decision (judgment, judgment)?

Verified 05 April 2024 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

You have need of a copy of a court decision  ? If you have been assisted by a lawyer, a copy of the decision is obtained generally beside him. If this is not the case, you can ask the court registry who has pronounced the decision. In some cases, such issue shall not be integral pitch, nor is it legal. We give you the information you need to know.

Civil judgment

You can request a simple copy and/or one enforceable copy the court decision if you want to enforce the decision. In some cases, only one extract may be issued.

You must send your request to graft of the court who has decision rendered (court of justice, court of appeal or court of cassation).

After 30 years, the minutes decisions are usually transmitted to the departmental archives. If your decision was rendered a while ago over 30 years your request for a copy should be addressed to the departmental archives.

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Judgment of a court of first instance

You would like to obtain a copy of a decision issued by the court of law, the local court, the labor court or the commercial court. The application can be made using the Cerfa form n°11808 or on free paper.

Request for a copy of a judgment in civil, social or commercial matters

You must to submit the application by single letter or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to graft of the court which gave the decision.

Decision of a Court of Appeal or Court of Cassation

You must send your request for a copy by single letter or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The application can be made using the Cerfa form n°11808 or on free paper.

Request for a copy of a judgment in civil, social or commercial matters

You must to submit the application to graft of the Court of Appeal concerned or of the Court of Cassation.

Who shall I contact

Decision made over 30 years ago

After 30 years, the minutes decisions are usually transmitted to the departmental archives. In this case, your request for a copy should be addressed to the departmental archives.

Who shall I contact

You can check your access using an online service:

Verify access rights to a decision held by the departmental archives

FYI  

Judgments of over 75 years can be consulted by all (after 100 years if it concerns a minor). In case of death of the parties, the time limit is 25 years from the death of the last party.

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You went to trial

If you are represented by lawyer, the court registry transmits to it a copy of the decision let him communicate to you.

Who shall I contact

You can also request a copy of the decision directly from the court that issued the decision.

You are an heir or entitled to a party to the proceedings

If you are heir or entitled of a deceased person, you can obtain a copy of a decision concerning that person.

In some cases, only one extract including essential information may be given to you (e.g. in the case of divorce).

You didn't go to trial

If you are one third party at trial, you can only request a copy of a judgment that has been pronounced publicly (in the presence of the public)

FYI  

in case of abusive requests (repeated requests, too many...), the copy of judgment can be refused.

When you are a party to a trial you can request a simple copy or a enforceable copy of the decision.

For third parties you can only get one extract of judgment.

Enforceable copy

Each of parts at trial may request an enforceable copy of the decision. If you are represented by a lawyer, this copy shall be sent to him by the Registry.

The enforceable copy allows you to to enforce the decision of the judge by a commissioner of justice in the absence of your opponent's voluntary execution. For example, if you want to get payment from damages, maintenance...

If there is a legitimate reason (e.g. loss or destruction of the copy issued to you), 2e enforceable copy may be issued to you. You must make the request to the President of the court which has given the decision.

Your request for an enforceable copy must be accompanied by a copy of your ID.

Simple Copy

You can get the simple copy of a court decision for various purposes. It can be used as evidence in another proceeding.

For example, a copy of an adoption judgment may be useful in the case of succession or a copy of a divorce judgment in the constitution of a retirement file.

Warning  

Only the parties, their heirs or rights-holders may request a copy of a decision relating to the parentage, adoption, the guardianship. This is also the case for the rectification of civil status, on change of matrimonial regime and the community liquidation.

Extract

You can get an excerpt from a court decision which includes only essential information. It can be useful in certain administrative procedures such as release or a transcript.

You can't execute a decision with just the snippet.

Please note

if an organism (for example, Caf: titleContent) or an administration (for example, taxes) asks you for a copy of your divorce judgment, you can give him an excerpt of this decision.

In the event of refusal or if the Registry does not reply to the request within 2 months you may refer the matter to the president of the court concerned by request. The procedure does not require a lawyer.

The President shall give his decision by a order on application.

You can do appeal of the decision the President of the General Court within 15 days.

The cost of a civil copy of a court decision depends on the court seised.

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General case

The request for a copy is free.

Before the Commercial Court

The cost of a copy of a decision is €4.03 TTC if sent by post. In the case of electronic transmission, the cost is €4.71 TTC.

Criminal judgment

You can request a enforceable copy to make execute a court decision and/or simple copy (true copy) for all other uses. In some cases, only one extract may be issued.

You must send your request to graft of the court that issued the decision.

After 30 years, the minutes decisions are usually transmitted to the departmental archives. If your decision was rendered a while ago over 30 years your request for a copy should be addressed to the departmental archives.

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Decision of the Court of Justice

You can request a copy of a criminal decision with the cerfa form no. 12823 or on free paper.

Request for a copy of a criminal court decision

The request may be made by simple letter or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

You must to submit the application at the Registry of the court which delivered the decision.

Who shall I contact

Decision of a Court of Appeal or Court of Cassation

You can request a copy of a criminal decision with the cerfa form no. 12823 or on free paper.

Request for a copy of a criminal court decision

The request may be made by simple letter or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

You must to submit the application at the registry of that court.

Who shall I contact

Decision made over 30 years ago

You must make your request for a copy by contacting departmental archives

Verify access rights to a decision held by the departmental archives

FYI  

the judgments of over 75 years can be consulted by all (and after 100 years if it is a minor). In case of death of the parties, the time limit is 25 years of the death of the last party

It is possible to request a copy of a criminal decision whether or not you are a party to the trial.

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You went to trial

You can request a copy of the decision.

If you are represented by a lawyer, he has received a copy of the decision that he can give you.

Who shall I contact

You didn't go to trial

If you're a third party at trial, you can ask a copy of a criminal judgment.

Your request is subject to authorization in some areas. The request may be refused or elements identifying the persons may be concealed.

Judgment without authorization

If you are a third party to the trial, you can request a copy of a criminal judgment.

It may be issued to you without authorization if the judgment is final and it was returned publicly (in the presence of the public)

The public prosecutor or the attorney general may object on delivery of the copy by reasoned decision in particular in the following cases:

  • Amnesty  rehabilitation, trial review
  • Condemnation prescribed
  • Intent to harm

The public prosecutor or the attorney general may also decide by reasoned decision d'concealing elements of the judgment. The concealed elements are those that could endanger the security or privacy of the persons named in the judgment. For example, persons who participated in the proceedings or the identity of the jurors.

FYI  

in the event of an abusive request (large number of requests, repeated requests, etc.), your request may be refused.

Judgment subject to authorization

You must get permission of the public prosecutor or the attorney general in particular in the following cases:

  • Non-final decision (appeals have not expired)
  • Decision of a Judge of instruction
  • Decision of an enforcement judge (responsible for the follow-up of the convicted person)
  • Juvenile judge's decision

You must justify a legitimate reason, for example, the application of an insurer.

This permission may be denied by reasoned decision (need for investigation...).

You can appeal to the President of the Investigative Chamber in the 2 months of the notification.

Who shall I contact

You can request a simple copy for various uses (insurance, administration...).

If you are civil party at a trial and you want enforce a decision, you can request a enforceable copy.

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You went to trial

You can request a simple copy of the decision.

If you are a civil party, you can request a coated copy of enforcement order.

In the event that the decision grants you damages., you can submit this enforceable copy to a Commissioner of Justice to carry out his enforced execution.

You're a third party at trial

One third party may obtain a copy of a criminal judgment.

Judgment rendered publicly

You can obtain a certified copy of the final judgments and judgments whether the decision has been given publicly.

The public prosecutor or the public prosecutor may object, by reasoned decision, to the grant of the following:

  • If it is a prescribed conviction
  • If the conviction has been erased by the courtamnesty, the rehabilitation , the revision
  • If the copy is requested with intent to harm.

The Public Prosecutor or the Public Prosecutor may also decide that the names of the persons and parts of the decision will be obscured on the copy.

FYI  

a judgment may be pronounced publicly, even if the debates which preceded it were not public (in camera). In this case, if you are a third party, only one extract may be communicated to you.

Judgment rendered out of public presence

If the decision is pronounced out of public presence, it may be communicated onlyto persons directly concerned (perpetrator, victim) and their heirs. This is the case, for example, if the person is a minor at the time of the offense.

FYI  

non-public judgments are available to all 75 years after the decision (or 100 years if they concern a minor). In case of death of the parties, the judgment may be communicated within 25 years which starts on death.

In the event of refusal or if the Registry does not reply to the request within 2 months you may refer the matter to the president of the court concerned. It shall give its decision by a order on application.

The matter shall be referred to the President of the Court by request.

You can do appeal of the decision within 15 days.

The request for a copy of judgment is free when requested either by your lawyer, or by you yourself if you don't have a lawyer.

If you ask a second copy or if you are not a party to the proceeding, the cost of copying is €0.46 per page and from €5 by digital medium (regardless of the number of pages)

The copy made may be recovered at the court registry. It may be sent to you at your expense by post. To do this, you must attach a stamped envelope to your address.

Who can help me?

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