The Cypriot legal system and rules relating to litigation are primarily based on the English legal system. The process of litigation is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules and every natural or legal person can seek justice through it.
The Cypriot District Courts act as first-instance courts and rule over civil matters unless the cases must be trialled by the Rent Control Court, the Industrial Disputes Court or by the Family Court. Moreover, the District Courts rule in criminal cases that involve up to five years imprisonment sentences. Criminal cases with sentences of imprisonment over five years will fall under the jurisdiction of the Assize Courts in Cyprus.
Areas of disputes that fall under the District Court jurisdiction:
- Corporate Litigation
- Property and Inheritance Disputes
- Personal Injury Claims
- Medical Negligence and malpractice
- Trespass
- Libel and Defamation
- Debt Recovery
- Bankruptcy and Insolvency
- Contract Disputes
- Fraud and asset tracking
- Commercial Disputes
- Shareholders Disputes
- Torts
- Trust Disputes
- Intellectual Property Disputes
- Admiralty Disputes