In the Philippines, civil litigation is governed primarily by the Rules of Court, as amended by the 2019 Proposed Amendments to the Revised Rules on Civil Procedure. Navigating the judicial system requires a clear understanding of the hierarchical stages of a lawsuit—from the filing of the complaint to the execution of judgment—and the corresponding financial obligations.

I. Jurisdictional Thresholds

Before filing, a plaintiff must determine the correct court based on the amount of the claim or the nature of the action. Under Republic Act No. 11576:

Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTC), Municipal Trial Courts (MTC), etc.: Handle civil actions where the total amount of the claim (excluding interests, damages, and costs) does not exceed ₱2,000,000.00.
Regional Trial Courts (RTC): Exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over claims exceeding ₱2,000,000.00, and actions incapable of pecuniary estimation (e.g., specific performance, rescission of contract).

II. The Procedural Workflow

1. Commencement of the Action

A civil case begins with the filing of a Verified Complaint. Under the 2019 Amendments, plaintiffs are now required to attach all supporting evidence (affidavits of witnesses and documentary exhibits) directly to the complaint.

2. Summons and Responsive Pleadings

Once the court finds the complaint sufficient, it issues a Summons to the defendant.

Answer: The defendant must file an Answer within thirty (30) calendar days from service.
Default: Failure to answer within the reglementary period may result in the defendant being declared in default, allowing the court to render judgment based on the plaintiff’s evidence alone.

3. Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM) and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)

The Philippine system prioritizes amicable settlements.

CAM: After the issues are joined, the case is referred to the Philippine Mediation Center.
JDR: If CAM fails, the case may undergo JDR, where a judge (other than the trial judge) acts as a mediator to help parties reach a compromise.

4. Pre-Trial and Trial

If settlement fails, the case proceeds to Pre-Trial. This is a mandatory stage where the court simplifies the issues, stipulates facts, and limits the number of witnesses.

Continuous Trial System: The court strictly adheres to a schedule where the presentation of evidence must be completed within specific timeframes (usually 180 days).

5. Judgment and Execution

After both parties have "rested" their cases, the judge renders a written decision. If the decision becomes final and executory, the winning party files a Motion for Execution to enforce the court’s order.

III. The Financial Component: Filing Fees and Costs

Litigation is not free; the "Pay-to-Play" principle applies. Filing fees are considered jurisdictional—failure to pay the correct amount may lead to the dismissal of the case.

1. Docket Fees

The Office of the Clerk of Court computes docket fees based on the total sum claimed (including moral, exemplary, and other damages).

Formulaic Basis: Fees generally scale upward with the value of the claim. For example, a ₱5,000,000.00 claim will incur significantly higher fees than a ₱500,000.00 claim.
Indigent Litigants: Parties who have no money or property sufficient and available for food, shelter, and basic necessities may apply to be "pauper litigants" to be exempt from paying fees.

2. Other Mandatory Fees

Beyond the basic docket fee, litigants must pay:

Legal Fees (Judiciary Development Fund): A percentage added to the docket fee.
Legal Research Fund (LRF): Usually 1% of the filing fee but not less than ₱10.00.
Sheriff’s Trust Fund: A deposit (usually around ₱1,000.00) to cover the expenses of the sheriff in serving summons or executing writs.

3. Mediation Fees

Parties are typically required to pay a fixed Mediation Fee (ranging from ₱1,000 to ₱5,000 depending on the court level) upon the case being referred to the Philippine Mediation Center.

4. Legal Fees (Attorney-Client)

These are private costs not paid to the court, but essential to the process:

Acceptance Fee: For taking the case.
Appearance Fee: For every hearing attended.
Contingency/Success Fee: A percentage of the amount recovered.

IV. Small Claims Cases: The Exception

For money claims not exceeding ₱1,000,000.00, the Revised Rules on Small Claims apply. This process is:

Inexpensive: No lawyers are allowed to represent parties during the hearing.
Expeditious: Cases are usually resolved in a single hearing.
Final: The decision in a small claims case is final and non-appealable.

Summary Table of Fees and Timeline

Category	Metropolitan/Municipal Courts	Regional Trial Courts
Claim Limit	Up to ₱2,000,000	Over ₱2,000,000
Filing Fee Basis	Graduated based on Rule 141	Graduated based on Rule 141
Mediation Fee	Mandatory	Mandatory
Typical Duration	12 - 24 months	24 - 48+ months