Funding mandatory court costs to secure children’s legal rights
Funding mandatory court costs to secure children’s legal rights
Latest: April 7, 2026
Important up-date
All required documents have now been submitted to the court, and a hearing has been scheduled for 26 June 2026, at which the lawyer and client will be present.
The following costs have been incurred i…
Read moreASsIST.ch [Asylum Seekers Information Services Team - www.assist-ch.org] is now a Swiss-registered non-profit association. Since July 2019, our Team has been providing rights-based legal information and assistance delivered in 12+ languages to asylum seekers and refugees in Greece. [www.assist-ch.org]
Summary: We are seeking to raise GBP 650.00 [or €740.00 as today's rate of exchange] to cover the mandatory statutory costs required for a recognised refugee [or any single parent] in Greece to apply for sole custody of her children. Without this court decision, the children cannot be issued travel documents or access stable accommodation and essential services. The costs must be paid in advance before the case can proceed. This crowdfunding, will enable this necessary legal step when mandatory fees would otherwise block access to justice.
All legal work is carried out by qualified lawyers, and costs reflect statutory requirements rather than discretionary fees.
Call to action - Your contribution will help remove a mandatory legal obstacle that stands between refugee recognition and the possibility of real stability for this single parent family.
Together our support will enable the lawful transition from partial protection to a stable future for a single mother with two children, who recently received refugee status in Greece. With your support, ASsIST.ch will be able to cover mandartory court and other fees and our lawyer will provide free legal assistance and representation to secure sole custody of her children.
They need your support: please contribute and share this page now!
What are we trying to achieve? - The mother fled a war-torn country where her family was persecuted by local militia. She fled together with her husband following his release from detention, but they were separated during their flight when he was arrested again. Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown.
She later arrived in Greece alone as sole care for her two infant children. She applied for asylum, and has been recognised as a refugee. While this status provides protection, it does not automatically enable access to accommodation or services for her children without the required custody decision.
Without this court decision, the children cannot be issued travel documents or the familly access stable accommodation and essential services. The children cannot be vaccinated or attend nursery or school. This funding will enable this necessary legal step when mandatory fees would otherwise block access to justice.
Although refugee status has already been granted, this family faces a post-recognition legal barrier that falls outside asylum procedures. Family law remedies such as custody applications are rarely covered by humanitarian or legal assistance funding, despite being legally unavoidable.
All court-related costs must be paid in advance before the court can hear the case. Without payment of these statutory costs, the legal process cannot begin.
What is the next step in the case? - Once the mandatory fees are paid, ASsIST’s lawyer will file the custody application without delay. A court hearing will then be scheduled, allowing the judge to determine sole custody so that travel documents can be issued for the children. Only once this legal step is completed can accommodation providers and service agencies proceed. Based on our lawyers' experience in such cases, it is anticipated that this procedure will take a minimum of three months to complete. Some recent cases have taken up to six months.
How much we are raising and why?
1. Filing fee to the Court: 50€
2. Legal representation fee to the Court: 32€
3. Court bailiff: 80 €
4. Publication of a summary in two newspapers (required by law): 200 €
Total fixed costs, excluding lawyer's fees: 362€.
The lawyer's fee, which is also mandatory and the lawyer’s invoice must be presented. For the entire process, based on previous cases, the lawyers fee is estimated approximately €300, and must be a minimum of €200, due to the drafting of the pleadings, the drafting of the summary for the newspapers, the arrangements for service and representation in court. Therefore, including the lawyers free, the total cost estimate is €662.00. Exclusive of travel costs for the mother, her two children and ASsIST’s lawyers. We therefore aspire to raise UKP 650 or €740.00 to cover all costs.
To continue to the second phase, further funds may be required.
The €1,000 target covers fixed, non-discretionary costs imposed by law, including:
- Court filing fees
- Bailiff service
- Mandatory legal publication
- Applicable Bar Association fees
- Court representation and legal fees
All court-related fees must be paid in advance. Legal representation is also mandatory: part of the lawyer’s fee must be invoiced at the outset in accordance with Bar Association requirements, with a final invoice submitted upon completion of the case.
Thank you in advance,
ASsIST.ch [Asylum Seekers Information Services Team]
Contact: [email protected]
Sheila Cross
April 7, 2026
Important up-date
All required documents have now been submitted to the court, and a hearing has been scheduled for 26 June 2026, at which the lawyer and client will be present.
The following costs have been incurred in relation to legal representation and required court procedures:
Legal fees (lawyer’s invoice): €434.00
Professional legal services, including case preparation, legal advice, and representation.
Court filing costs (Bar Association system): €46.85
Mandatory contributions, social security charges (EFKA), procedural stamps, and taxes linked to the filing of the application before the court.
Court representation costs (Bar Association system): €97.00
Mandatory contributions, social security charges, procedural stamps, and taxes associated with legal representation and submission of written pleadings.
Court file and stamp costs: €12.50
Official court stamps required for the preparation and submission of the case file and supporting documents.
Newspaper publication costs: €80.00
Two legally required public notices published in national newspapers (€40.00 each).
Bailiff’s fee: €55.80
Service of legal documents in accordance with procedural requirements.
The total cost incurred to date is €726.15, covering legal fees and the statutory costs required to bring the case before the court. Supporting documentation for all expenditures is held on file but cannot be shared due to confidentiality requirements.
Now recognised as a refugee, our client family has been required to leave reception accommodation. ASsIST is taking additional steps, including liaising with other essential services, to support access to accommodation and basic needs pending the court hearing.
We will provide a further update following the court hearing.
Sheila Cross
Feb. 1, 2026
Child Rights: Custody case update — what has changed and why
Even in urgent cases involving vulnerable children — and even when the other parent cannot be contacted, which is often the reality for single parents seeking international protection — legal protection is not automatic.
Parents must still navigate mandatory procedural steps, professional legal representation, and unavoidable statutory costs before a court can issue a first decision.
Progress to date
Thanks to the support received so far, the ASsIST lawyer has been able to initiate the court procedure. The urgent application has been prepared and filed, and the required enquiries regarding the whereabouts and legal status of the other parent have been undertaken in line with court requirements. This has allowed the case to move forward.
What has changed
As the procedure has progressed, it has become clear that additional mandatory steps are required before the judge can issue a first decision. In particular, current practice requires formal compliance with a mandatory initial mediation step, even in cases where there is no realistic possibility of mediation because the other parent cannot be contacted.
To comply with this requirement, the court usually requires fixed mediation fees and the submission of professional invoices from both the mediator and the lawyer. These costs are procedural and non-discretionary, even where mediation itself does not meaningfully take place.
Why the fundraising target has been revised
In earlier cases (2023), similar custody proceedings could be completed for less. Since then, procedural requirements have evolved, and courts now require more extensive formal compliance before a case can proceed. These changes increase the cost of acting quickly and correctly, without expanding the scope of the case.
The revised target reflects the realistic cost of the first, urgent phase of the procedure, not an escalation of the legal action.
Timeline
Even in urgent cases, the first phase of proceedings usually takes a minimum of around three months, depending on court scheduling.
Scope of this fundraising
The funds raised here cover the first phase only — the interim measures procedure needed to secure immediate legal protection for the children.
ASsIST is not seeking funding for a second phase at this time. If further proceedings are required, a separate stage may follow to determine permanent custody. This is not automatic, depends on the court’s assessment, and would take place later, with different costs and timelines.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this case so far. Your solidarity is making it possible for a single parent to navigate a complex legal system and seek protection for her children where procedural barriers would otherwise stand in the way.
Support the case