The multiplicity of limitation periods and the numerous exceptions applicable to them mean that, in court proceedings, too much time is devoted to procedural issues rather than to examining the merits of a case. A comprehensive draft amendment to the Civil Code, prepared by the Civil Law Codification Commission, is intended to address this problem.

Among other measures, the draft legislation proposes standardising and reducing the general limitation period from six to three years, extending the period for enforcing claims confirmed by a final judgment from six to ten years, and requiring courts to consider the expiry of limitation periods of their own motion.

Professor Krzysztof Koźmiński, Managing Partner at Jabłoński Koźmiński & Partners and Professor at the University of Warsaw, shared his observations as part of the Rzeczpospolita Lawyers’ Panel. We invite you to read the article.

The full analysis and the results of the Lawyers’ Panel are available here.