Civil suits

Civil suits address disputes over rights and duties between individuals or legal persons or against the state or other public bodies. The parties in a civil suit can thus be individuals, organizations, institutions or the Icelandic state.

The factor that by en large separates civil cases and criminal cases is the fact that the prosecutorial power cannot be a party to civil cases. Parties may, however, submit a civil claim in criminal cases provided certain conditions are met.

It is up to the individuals, organizations or institutions that launch the relevant civil suit to determine what claims are made in the case, as well as obtaining and submitting evidence in support of their rights.

Civil suits begin with a summons being issued and the case being filed in court. Upon filing of a case in court the person filing the case must pay a special filing fee.