European e-Justice Portal

Organisation of justice – Judicial systems

Administration of courts

Cyprus was a British colony until 1960 and the legal systems established are based almost entirely on the English legal system and legislation was passed on the basis of the principles of common law and equity.

The legal system which has been in force since the Republic of Cyprus was established retains the influence of the English legal system. The courts of the Republic of Cyprus apply the following laws:

The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus (Σύνταγμα της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας)
The laws retained by virtue of Article 188 of the Constitution
The principles of common law and the principles of equity
The laws passed by the House of Representatives (Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων).

Following the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union in 2004, the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus was amended so that European law has supremacy.

Types of courts – a short description

There are courts of two instances in Cyprus: the Supreme Court (Ανώτατο Δικαστήριο) (second instance) and the various courts of first instance listed below:

SUPREME COURT (ΑΝΩΤΑΤΟ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ)
DISTRICT COURTS (ΕΠΑΡΧΙΑΚΑ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΑ)
ASSIZE COURTS (ΚΑΚΟΥΡΓΙΟΔΙΚΕΙΑ)
FAMILY COURTS (ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑΚΑ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΑ)
RENT CONTROL TRIBUNAL (ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΑ ΕΛΕΓΧΟΥ ΕΝΟΙΚΙΑΣΕΩΝ)
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES TRIBUNAL (ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΑ ΕΡΓΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΩΝ)
MILITARY COURT (ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ)

Legal databases

There is still no official legal database. There are a number of private legal databases, some of which provide subscriber services and some of which provide free access.

They contain information on court judgments and primary legislation.

Related Links

Supreme Court of Cyprus (Ανώτατο Δικαστήριο Κύπρου)

Last update: 29/08/2014

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National justice systems

Organisation of justice – Judicial systems

Administration of courts

Types of courts – a short description

Legal databases

Related Links