Felperes

Felperes is a legal term, used primarily in Hungarian and some other civil law contexts, referring to the party who brings a civil action before a court — the plaintiff or claimant. The felperes initiates proceedings by filing a complaint or petition setting out the facts and legal basis for the claim and the relief sought.

As the initiating party, the felperes commonly bears the burden of proof for the assertions made in the complaint and is responsible for complying with procedural requirements such as paying filing fees, serving process on the opposing party, and responding to court orders. The defendant in the same proceedings is frequently called the alperes in Hungarian usage. Throughout the case, the felperes has the right to present evidence, question witnesses, and request interim measures or provisional remedies where permitted by law.

The exact duties, rights, and procedural posture of a felperes vary between jurisdictions and legal systems. In some languages or legal traditions the role is identified by different terms (for example, plaintiff or claimant in English). The term is generally confined to civil and administrative disputes; criminal prosecutions are typically pursued by public prosecutors or complainants under distinct procedural rules. Understanding the role of the felperes requires reference to the specific civil procedure code or court practice of the relevant jurisdiction.