French Code of civil procedure

The parties defend themselves. They may be assisted or represented in accordance with the rules applicable before the court from which the judgment emanates. The representative must, if he is not a lawyer, show proof of a special power of attorney.

The appeal is lodged by a declaration which the party or any agent makes or addresses, by registered letter, to the court registry.

The statement shall include the particulars prescribed by 2° and 3° of Article 54 and by the third paragraph of Article 57. It shall designate the judgment appealed against, specify the heads of the judgment appealed against to which the appeal is limited, unless the appeal seeks to set aside the judgment or if the subject-matter of the dispute is indivisible, and mention, where applicable, the name and address of…

The registrar shall record the appeal on its date; he shall issue or send by ordinary letter a receipt for the declaration.

As soon as the formalities have been completed by the appellant, the clerk’s office shall notify the opposing party of the appeal by any means, send it a copy of the statement of appeal and inform it that it will subsequently be summoned to appear before the court.

The court clerk shall summon the defendant to the hearing scheduled for the debates, as soon as it is fixed and at least fifteen days in advance, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The plaintiff is notified by any means of the place, day and time of the hearing. The summons is equivalent to a summons.

If it is necessary to summon again a party who was not joined by the first summons, it may be ordered that the new summons will be made by writ of a bailiff.

When the case is not ready to be heard, one of the members of the chamber may be appointed to hear it. This member may be appointed before the hearing scheduled for the debates. The magistrate responsible for hearing the case shall organise the exchanges between the parties appearing under the conditions and subject to the sanctions provided for in Article 446-2.