Georgia has no single mandatory tariff for private lawyers: remuneration and its calculation method are agreed between lawyer and client and should be clear in advance. A total budget may include advice, drafting, representation, court fees, experts, translation, notary, travel and enforcement. Compare not only a number, but the exact scope, responsible team, stages and approval mechanism for additional work.
1. Why there is no single price for every matter
Remuneration is contractual. Matters with the same label may differ sharply in urgency, record volume, number of parties, cross-border elements, procedural stage, hearings and expert needs. Counsel needs enough information to define scope before quoting.
The Georgian Bar Association explains that the fee, calculation method and relevant rate should be known in advance and acceptable to the client. A written agreement protects both sides and separates professional fees from state and third-party costs.
2. Common fee models
A fixed fee suits a defined output such as contract review or registration. Hourly billing suits variable work. Staged fixed fees divide litigation into assessment, pleadings, hearings and appeal. A monthly model provides defined access for a business.
A success-related component requires particular clarity: what counts as success, how the amount is calculated, when it is payable and what happens after a partial result, settlement or termination. It must not imply an outcome guarantee.
- Fixed fee
- Hourly rate
- Staged budget
- Monthly retainer
- Blended or outcome-related component
3. What a consultation fee should cover
A consultation may be initial orientation or a prepared written assessment. Clarify duration, document allowance, whether a written summary and source research are included, and how later drafting or representation is priced.
A useful consultation classifies the issue, identifies urgent deadlines, options, principal risks, required records and the budget for the next step. It is not a final opinion on facts that have not been verified.
4. Scope of a court-representation quote
A litigation quote should state whether it covers file review, legal research, claim or defence, interim relief, evidence gathering, negotiation, number of hearings, written submissions, appeal response and enforcement.
Scope may expand through a counterclaim, expert, witnesses, new party or parallel administrative or criminal process. There should be a mechanism for estimating and approving additional work before it begins.
5. Civil court filing fees
Under the current general Civil Procedure Code rules, a property-valued first-instance claim carries 3% of the value in dispute, minimum GEL 100; an appeal 4%, minimum GEL 150; and cassation 5%, minimum GEL 300. Different statutory caps apply by instance to natural and legal persons.
Non-property, magistrate, special and interim applications can differ. Legislation provides exemptions, reductions, deferrals and claim-specific exceptions. Verify the current text and calculate the value in dispute accurately.
- First instance: 3%, minimum GEL 100
- Appeal: 4%, minimum GEL 150
- Cassation: 5%, minimum GEL 300
- Interlocutory complaint or interim relief: a special fixed fee may apply
6. Other costs: experts, translation, notary and enforcement
The total budget can include state fees, court-related costs, experts or specialists, interpretation and translation, notary, apostille or legalisation, registry services, courier, travel and enforcement.
For international clients, identify which documents need full translation or authentication and what can be prepared bilingually. Expert instructions should be precise because unnecessary or repeated work can materially increase cost.
7. How to compare two legal proposals
Compare understanding of the matter, team, scope, exclusions, timing, reporting, hearing allowance, tax, disbursements and rates for extra work. A low headline fee may omit a material stage; a higher fee should be explained by scope or expertise.
Ask who is responsible, how updates are delivered, what happens on settlement, termination terms and how the file is returned. A professional relationship begins with informed agreement.
8. Controlling cost without sacrificing quality
Prepare a clean chronology, name files by date and description, separate core records from duplicates, use one contact and agree decision gates. Organised information reduces both billable time and error risk.
Before each stage, assess best, realistic and downside scenarios, likely cost, time and enforcement. Early settlement may sometimes be economically preferable; urgent or principled protection may matter more in others. The decision should be informed, not merely cheapest.
Important noteThis material is general information, not personalised legal advice. Recheck current law, official practice, fees and deadlines against your facts before acting.