Glossary of legal terms

Administrative action

A claim filed with the administrative court to challenge a decision or conduct of an authority, for example the tax administration.

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Beneficial owner

The person who really owns or controls a company, or benefits from it. The company must record them in the register.

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Business Register

The public list of companies and their details, such as registered office, directors and shareholders. It is kept by the registry courts.

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Calculation base

The average monthly wage in the Slovak economy for the first half of the previous year. Some rates of lawyers’ fees are calculated from it.

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Cash expenses

Costs that are not part of the lawyer’s fee, such as court and administrative fees, expert fees or travel. The client pays them separately.

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Constitutional complaint

An application to the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic when a public authority has breached your fundamental rights and no other protection is available.

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Contingency fee

A percentage of the value of the matter, at most 20 %. The lawyer is entitled to it only if the client fully succeeds, and it may be agreed only where the outcome is very uncertain.

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Contractual fee

A fee the lawyer and client agree in their contract. It takes precedence over the tariff fee.

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Costs of proceedings

Expenses connected with court proceedings, such as fees and the lawyer’s fee. The court decides who reimburses them to whom.

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Court fee

A payment to the state for the court’s work, for example for filing a claim or an application to the Business Register. It is not part of the lawyer’s fee.

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Enforcement

Compulsory collection when a debtor does not pay voluntarily. It is carried out by a court bailiff on the basis of an enforceable title, such as a judgment.

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Fixed fee

A set amount for services over a period or for handling the whole matter. Companies know it as a legal retainer.

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Flat overhead allowance

Reimbursement of the lawyer’s routine costs, such as postage and phone. It is added to the fee for each legal act as a fraction of the calculation base.

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Hourly fee

A fee for the time the lawyer reasonably spends on the matter, at the agreed hourly rate.

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Lawyer’s authentication of a document

The lawyer drafts the document and confirms with signature and stamp that the parties signed it in their presence. It is used, for example, when setting up a company.

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Legal act

A single step the lawyer takes in a matter, for example taking on and preparing representation, a written submission or attending a hearing.

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Legal professional privilege

A lawyer must keep confidential everything learned from the client or in the course of the matter. The duty continues after the work ends.

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Payment order

A court decision issued without a hearing that orders the debtor to pay. The debtor can defend by filing an objection.

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Power of attorney

A written authorisation by which the client allows the lawyer to act on their behalf, for example before a court or an authority.

Probate proceedings

Proceedings after a person’s death that decide who inherits their assets and to what extent. They are conducted by a notary acting as court commissioner.

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Register of public sector partners

A register of companies and people who receive money or assets from the state, municipalities or EU funds. Registration is made by an authorised person, such as a lawyer.

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Tariff fee

The fee under Decree No. 655/2004. It applies if the lawyer and client do not agree otherwise and is calculated as the rate per legal act times the number of acts.

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Tariff value

The amount or price at stake in the matter. The basic rate of the tariff fee per legal act depends on it.

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Trainee lawyer

A lawyer who works in a law firm under the supervision of an advocate while preparing for the bar exam.

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The explanations are simplified and for orientation only. They do not assess any particular matter.