Oikeudenkäyntikustannukset

Oikeudenkäyntikustannukset are the expenses incurred by parties involved in legal proceedings in Finland. These costs typically include legal fees for attorneys, court fees, and other expenses such as expert witness fees and travel costs. The general principle in Finnish law is that the losing party is responsible for reimbursing the winning party's reasonable legal costs. This principle aims to ensure that parties have a fair chance to seek justice without being deterred by potentially overwhelming costs, while also discouraging frivolous litigation.

However, the court has discretion to deviate from this principle. For example, if a case is settled or withdrawn, the parties may agree on how costs are divided, or the court may order each party to bear their own costs. In certain types of cases, such as family law matters or some administrative law cases, the principle of each party bearing their own costs may be applied more broadly. Additionally, if a party acts in bad faith or causes unnecessary delays, the court may order them to pay a larger share of the costs, or even the entirety of the opponent's costs.

The determination of what constitutes reasonable legal costs is made by the court. This involves assessing the complexity of the case, the time spent by the legal representatives, and the established hourly rates. Parties are expected to provide documentation to substantiate their claimed costs. The goal is to ensure that the awarded costs are proportionate to the actual expenses incurred in a necessary and reasonable manner for the conduct of the litigation.