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New Lawyers’ Tariff

May 22, 2025

A new tariff for lawyers’ fees will come into effect in February 2025 in Bulgaria. The new rules no longer limit the amount of fees and are not binding between a lawyer and a client, but are an important guideline for both the guild and the court.

The tariff for lawyers’ fees is contained in the Regulation on Remuneration for Lawyers’ Work /full text below/. The amendments are related to the elimination of the overall concept of a minimum amount of a lawyer’s fee. Until recently, failure to comply with the tariff could lead to disciplinary liability for a lawyer who worked for remuneration below the minimum.

With the new regulation, determining the tariff for lawyers in all cases and cases, the indicated amounts of remuneration are only desirable and indicative.

Here are the most important ones:

Fees for legal representation

Some cases do not have a certain material interest – the claims are invaluable. For them, the regulation provides for a fixed tariff, with fees starting at 1000 leva.
When a right is claimed in the case that can be assessed in money /claims for payment of sums of money, claims for items of a certain value and many others/, then the following indicative fees are applicable:

  1. for interest up to 1000 BGN – 400 BGN;
  2. for interest from 1000 to 10,000 BGN – 400 BGN plus 10% for the amount over 1000 BGN;
  3. for interest from 10,000 to 25,000 BGN – 1300 BGN plus 9% for the amount over 10,000 BGN;
  4. for interest from 25,000 BGN to 100,000 BGN – 2650 BGN plus 8% for the amount over 25,000 BGN;
  5. for interest from 100,000 BGN up to 500,000 BGN – 8,650 BGN plus 4% for the amount over 100,000 BGN;
  6. for interest from 500,000 BGN to 1,000,000 BGN – 24,650 BGN plus 3% for the amount over 500,000 BGN;
  7. for interest from 1,000,000 BGN to 10,000,000 BGN – 39,650 BGN plus 1.5% for the amount over 1,000,000 BGN;
  8. for interest over 10,000,000 BGN – 174,650 BGN plus 0.6% for the amount over 10,000,000 BGN

It is important for the client to keep in mind that the indicated fees are due for each court instance. A new fee is also collected when the case is returned for re-examination by a lower instance.
An additional fee is charged for appearing at more than two court hearings – 250 leva for each subsequent one.
The fee may be set at double the amount when the case is of high legal and factual complexity.
Another important factor for the lawyer’s fee is the possibility for the client to request a refund of the fee paid. This can be done only in the event of a justified withdrawal of the powers of attorney, and in this case the lawyer has the right to receive/retain the remuneration received for the work done. If the withdrawal of the powers of attorney is unjustified, the remuneration is due in full.


The entire Ordinance on Lawyers’ Fees:

Ordinance on Lawyers’ Fees

/adopted on 06.02.2025 by the Supreme Bar Council/

Art. 1. The amount of the remuneration for the legal assistance provided by the lawyer shall be determined by free negotiation on the basis of a written contract with the client.
Art. 2. (1) In the absence of a written contract, the remuneration shall be determined by the Bar Council in accordance with the criteria provided for in this regulation.
(2) In the cases under Art. 38, para. 2 of the Bar Act, the due lawyer’s remuneration shall be determined by the court or the pre-trial proceedings authorities in accordance with the criteria provided for in this regulation.
(3) (New – SG, issue 28 of 2014, repealed by Decision No. 13062 of 03.10.2019 and Decision No. 5419 of 08.05.2020 of the Supreme Administrative Court – SG, issue 45 of 2020, effective 15.05.2020)
(4) The fees for procedural representation are due for each instance, including when the case is returned for a new hearing.
(5) For procedural representation, defense and assistance in civil cases, the fees are determined according to the type and number of claims filed, for each of them separately, regardless of the form of joining the claims.
(6) The payment of the fee is in advance and payable on the date of conclusion of the legal aid contract. It may be spread over several installments.
(7) In the case of partial claims, the remuneration for the first partial claim filed shall be determined on the full amount of the claim, regardless of the part of it for which the claim is filed.
(8) In the case of procedural representation, protection and assistance carried out in court and administrative institutions located outside the settlement in which the lawyer’s office is located, the remuneration determined in accordance with this regulation shall not include amounts for travel expenses and stay.
(9) When the procedural representation, defense and assistance are related to particular factual and legal complexity, the remuneration under this regulation may be determined in double amount.
Art. 3. When a voluntary settlement of the dispute is achieved or the case is concluded with an agreement, reconciliation or settlement or is terminated due to withdrawal or waiver of the claim, the remuneration paid shall not be returned.
Art. 4. When the client withdraws from the concluded contract without good reason, the remuneration paid by him shall not be returned, and when the payment of the remuneration is spread over several installments, the client owes payment of the full amount of the remuneration that has been agreed upon.
Art. 5. (1) Lawyers may provide free legal assistance to:
1. financially disadvantaged persons;
2. persons who are entitled to maintenance;
3. relatives and friends, as well as lawyers.
(2) Free legal assistance to the persons under para. 1 may also be provided by law firms and partnerships.
Art. 6. (1) The fees for advice, reference, preparation of documents and contracts are as follows:

Additional provisions

§ 1. For cases not provided for in this regulation, the remuneration shall be determined by analogy.
§ 1a. (1) For the purposes of this regulation, when determining the amount of remuneration for legal services, “interest” is

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