Summary civil cases

Such cases include undisputed debt collection cases, such as cases concerning unpaid rents, consumer credits, and phone and electricity bills, as well as undisputed cases concerning evictions, restoration of possession or a disrupted circumstance.

Summary proceedings can be initiated at a district court with an application for a summons that contains less information than what is required for other civil proceedings. The prerequisite for using the less detailed application for a summons is that the plaintiff, i.e. the creditor, has stated that to his or her knowledge the matter is not under dispute.

Everyone else except private individuals initiating their personal matter must use electronic services for initiating a summary civil case. For more information about e-services, look here .

Private individuals initiating their personal matter can submit their application for a summons either through the e-service of the judicial administration, as an attachment to an email message, or as a paper copy.

As a rule, the competent district court is determined on the basis of the defendant’s municipality of residence or permanent residence.

If a case initiated by a narrow application for a summons is challenged, it is transferred to the normal civil procedure. If the district court that has dealt with the matter until then is not competent on any other grounds, the disputed case shall be referred to the competent district court. If the defendant is a private person, the matter will then be transferred to the district court of his or her domicile or place of permanent residence. The matter may not be transferred in certain situations.

Judicial districts in summary civil cases

1. the judicial district of the Åland District Court includes Åland;
2. the judicial district of the Helsinki District Court includes the city of Helsinki;
3. the judicial district of the Eastern Uusimaa District Court includes the Region of Uusimaa, with the exception of the city of Helsinki, and the municipality of Pyhtää;
4. the judicial district of the Kymenlaakso District Court includes the Regions of South Karelia, South Savo, Ky-menlaakso, North Karelia, North Savo, and Päijät-Häme, with the exception of the municipality of Pyhtää;
5. the judicial district of the Lapland District Court includes the Regions of Kainuu and Lapland;
6. the judicial district of the Oulu District Court includes the Region of North Ostrobothnia;
7. the judicial district of the Pirkanmaa District Court includes the Regions of Pirkanmaa and Satakunta;
8. the judicial district of the Ostrobothnia District Court includes the Regions of South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostro-bothnia, Ostrobothnia and Central Finland;
9. the judicial district of the Southwest Finland District Court includes the Regions of Kanta-Häme and Southwest Finland.

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