Court-sentence in Hungary – take notice of it

Court-sentence in Hungary - take notice of it

Court-sentence in Hungary – take notice of it

After announcing a sentence in Hungary – be it a civil or criminal case, the judge often asks whether the parties appeal or „take not (or notice) of the sentence“. And if you are unlucky the interpreter will translate it literally without further explanation.

And probably the party will think „well, of course, I have heard and understood it, so what?“ and might say „yes“. 

What interpreters might themselves not know and/or omit to tell you is that in the Hungarian court-jargon, „taking note or notice of a sentence“ means „accepting it“, so you renounce the right to appeal. 

Though I am German and not a Hungarian native speaker, I am convinced that this is also in Hungarian languagewise nonsense. „To take note of something“ means „perceiving it“ without any appreciation or other evaluation. And so far no Hungarian has been able to explain to me, why in the court it could possibly mean „accepting the sentence“.

What do I want to tell you with this?

It is of utmost importance that when you are involved in a court- or other official procedure in Hungary, you have are accompanied – or better and wiser: represented – by someone who is absolutely familiar with Hungarian and English. Otherwise you might be in for a really unpleasant surprise. You should not risk that!

There are many competent, good English-speakers among the Hungarian colleagues, so it does not have to be me. But if you think it could be me, then you can pick up contact with us here

Dr. Donat Ebert

Ügyvéd - Rechtsanwalt (HU, D)

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