Poland's Civil Procedure Code Amendment — Key Changes for Legal Representatives (March 2026)

On 1 March 2026, an amendment to Poland’s Code of Civil Procedure (Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, KPC) entered into force — enacted on 5 August 2025 (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1172). The changes are particularly relevant for companies litigating in Poland and for foreign clients who engage Polish counsel. The reform focuses on three areas: digitalisation of proceedings, simplified service of process, and broader use of mediation.

Bar Registration Number Required in Procedural Filings

Under amended Art. 126 § 3 KPC, attorneys, legal advisers and patent attorneys must include their bar registration number once — in the first filing to which a power of attorney or certified copy thereof is attached. Subsequent filings in the same case do not require this information to be repeated.

The change aims to facilitate identification of counsel in the ROBUS system and enable verification of professional standing.

Electronic Powers of Attorney

New Art. 89 § 1² KPC expressly permits powers of attorney to be granted in electronic form — bearing a qualified electronic signature, a trusted signature or a personal signature. Crucially, such a power of attorney may also be used in proceedings conducted in traditional paper form.

For foreign clients, this means a power of attorney can now be granted remotely, without a visit to the law office — via a signed electronic document.

Filing Documents via the Court Information Portal

New Art. 125¹ KPC allows professional counsel to file certain categories of documents through the Court Information Portal (Portal Informacyjny). These include:

• appeals, interlocutory appeals, complaints against court referendary orders and related filings,
• requests to participate in proceedings, requests for remote hearings, requests for written grounds,
• applications for an enforcement clause or a certified copy of a final judgment.

Timeline: Until 28 February 2027, a transitional year applies — counsel may choose between paper and electronic form. From 1 March 2027, electronic filing of these documents will be mandatory; a paper filing will have no legal effect.

Exceptions apply to filings directed to the Supreme Court and to land register and company register proceedings.

Electronic Certification of Documents

Amended Art. 129 § 2¹ KPC grants professional counsel the right to certify documents electronically directly in the IT system or the Court Information Portal — on a voluntary basis.

The previous provision imposed automatic certification upon uploading a document, which caused difficulties when the original was not available at the time of filing. The new wording removes this ambiguity.

Direct Electronic Service Between Counsel

New Art. 132 § 1⁴ and 1⁵ KPC establish a mechanism for direct service between professional counsel via the Court Information Portal. Filing a document through the Portal and receiving electronic confirmation of its delivery to the other party constitutes fulfilment of the direct service obligation.

Even when a document is filed with the court in paper form, counsel may voluntarily use the Portal to exchange copies with opposing counsel, reducing postage costs and speeding up communication.

Mandatory Mediation in Construction Disputes

New Art. 458³a § 1 KPC introduces a requirement to refer parties to mediation before the first preparatory hearing or trial in disputes arising from construction contracts and contracts closely connected with the construction process.

The obligation does not apply to order-for-payment proceedings, but is triggered once an objection to a payment order is filed. A party may refuse mediation, but an unjustified refusal may result in a costs order under Art. 103 § 3 KPC.

The legislator introduced this measure given the complexity of construction disputes — typically multi-layered, costly and reliant on expert evidence — to relieve court caseloads and offer parties a faster, less adversarial route to resolution.

FAQ

When did the KPC amendment enter into force? On 1 March 2026, pursuant to the Act of 5 August 2025 (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1172).

When does electronic filing via the Court Information Portal become mandatory? From 1 March 2027. Until then, a voluntary transitional period applies. After that date, a paper filing of the affected documents will have no legal effect.

Can a foreign client grant a power of attorney without travelling to Poland? Yes. The amendment expressly permits electronically signed powers of attorney — valid even in proceedings conducted in paper form.

Is mediation always mandatory in construction disputes? It applies to disputes from construction contracts and closely related agreements. It does not apply in order-for-payment proceedings initially, but is triggered after an objection is filed against a payment order. Refusal without good reason may lead to a costs order.

What happens if a document is filed in paper form after 1 March 2027? It will have no legal effect. In practice, for example, an appeal filed on paper after that date will be treated as not filed.

Do you have questions about litigation in Poland or the impact of these changes on your business? Contact us — our team advises in English and German.

Legal basis: Act of 5 August 2025 amending the Code of Civil Procedure, the Civil Code and other acts (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1172); Explanatory memorandum, Parliamentary Print No. 1304, 21 May 2025.