Poland Polish Courts and Authorities

Legal Matters in Poland — attorney in Warsaw: asset recovery, extradition, divorces, and probate for the Polish-American community

Overview

Sokol Law Group handles asset recovery, divorces and asset division, criminal defense, arrest warrants and extradition, probate, and the recognition of foreign judgments in Poland. Services are available in Polish, including remotely from the United States. For individual matters, please contact our Warsaw office at +48 22 219 5088.

Sokol Law Group, led by attorney Jerzy Sokół, provides legal assistance in matters handled by Polish courts and administrative authorities. A significant part of our practice is dedicated to diaspora cases—situations where clients reside permanently in the United States while their legal proceedings take place in Poland, such as inheritance from a relative, division of property, extradition proceedings, or the recognition of a judgment.

The bi-jurisdictional nature of our firm allows us to coordinate actions on both sides of the Atlantic, which is crucial when documentation or assets are located simultaneously in Poland and the U.S. Below is an overview of the legal matters we handle; this information is introductory and does not replace a formal consultation.

Office 2 Prusa St.
00-493 Warsaw

Phone +48 22 219 5088

Services In Polish,
also remotely from the U.S.

Legal Matters Handled in Poland

Eight Practice Areas

01Asset Recovery and Reprivatization
02Divorce and Child Abduction (Hague Convention)
03Property Division, Including Cross-Border
04Criminal Defense
05Arrest Warrants and Extradition
06Probate and Wills
07Applications to the ECHR in Strasbourg
08Recognition of Foreign Judgments

Asset Recovery and Reprivatization

The firm handles cases for the recovery of real estate and other assets, including reprivatization claims regarding properties lost in the past. These proceedings often take many years and typically require archival research and legal title clearance.

In practice, these matters also include the recovery of ancestral property to which heirs living in the United States have lost access. Due to the necessity of coordinating Polish documentation with records from the U.S., the firm handles such cases taking into account the realities of both jurisdictions.

Divorce and Child Abduction (Hague Convention)

The firm represents clients in divorce proceedings, including cross-border cases where one spouse resides in Poland and the other in the United States. The attorney outlines the course of proceedings and their resulting consequences so that decisions are made knowingly.

A separate category consists of cases involving international child abduction under the Hague Convention—when one parent has removed a child to another country without the consent of the other parent or a court order.

Property Division, Including Cross-Border

The firm handles cases regarding the division of joint marital property following the termination of joint ownership. A special case involves situations where assets are located simultaneously in Poland and the United States, such as real estate in one country and bank accounts in the other.

In such matters, the firm ensures the coordination of proceedings between jurisdictions, taking into account the mutual enforceability of judgments. The scope of possible actions depends on the specific circumstances of each case.

Criminal Defense

The firm represents both defendants and victims in criminal proceedings conducted in Poland. Assistance covers all stages of proceedings—from preparatory activities, through court proceedings, to appellate measures provided by law.

In criminal matters with a foreign element, cooperation with the firm's office in the United States is possible, for example when evidence originates from the U.S. and the proceedings are taking place in Poland.

Arrest Warrants and Extradition

The firm handles matters related to arrest warrants and extradition proceedings in Polish-American relations. This particularly applies to two situations: a person sought under a Polish arrest warrant and detained in the United States, and a person sought abroad against whom extradition proceedings are pending in Poland.

The bi-jurisdictional nature of the firm enables parallel actions in both countries. Time is usually of the essence in these matters, so please contact us as early as possible.

Probate and Wills

The firm handles Polish probate matters, including certification of inheritance, division of estate, and forced share claims, as well as assisting in drafting wills compliant with Polish law.

A significant portion of these cases involves heirs living in the United States after relatives who passed away in Poland. In many of these cases, the personal presence of the interested party in Poland is not necessary, and proceedings can be conducted based on a power of attorney.

Applications to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Upon exhausting domestic appellate channels, in cases where there are grounds for violating the European Convention on Human Rights, it may be possible to file an individual application with the Court in Strasbourg. The firm assists in assessing whether there are grounds for such a step in a given case.

Proceedings before the Court are subject to specific formal requirements and deadlines, which is why assessing the merits of the application requires an individual analysis of the case's previous course.

Recognition of Foreign Judgments

A judgment issued by a foreign court—for example in a divorce, probate, or civil matter—often requires recognition in Poland to produce legal effects there. The firm handles cases for the recognition of such rulings, as well as mirror cases concerning the effectiveness of Polish judgments abroad.

Due to the bi-jurisdictional nature of the firm, these matters can be handled in coordination with the office in the United States. The procedure depends on the type of ruling and requires individual determination.

FAQ

Matters Handled in Poland from the U.S.

Can I handle a legal matter in Poland remotely while living in the U.S.?

In many matters conducted in Poland, the personal presence of a person living in the United States is not necessary, and proceedings can be conducted based on a power of attorney. The scope of actions that can be carried out remotely depends on the type of case, so please discuss it during your consultation.

What is a case handled under the Hague Convention?

The Hague Convention regulates situations where a child has been removed abroad without the consent of the other parent or a court order. The proceedings have their own procedural framework, and their course depends on the circumstances of the specific case. This website does not constitute legal advice on individual matters.

Is a foreign court judgment valid in Poland?

For a judgment issued abroad to produce legal effects in Poland, it is often necessary to have it recognized through the appropriate procedure. Which procedure applies depends on the type of ruling and the circumstances of the case, requiring an individual assessment.

Consultation

Consultation at Our Warsaw Office

If your case is pending or is to be conducted in Poland, we invite you to contact our Warsaw office: Sokol Law Group, 2 Prusa St., 00-493 Warsaw. Consultations can be scheduled by phone at +48 22 219 5088. Consultations with attorney Jerzy Sokół, a graduate of the University of Warsaw and the University of Connecticut, can also be coordinated to accommodate the time zones of individuals living in the United States.

Call Our Warsaw Office Write to the Firm

Warsaw

ul. Prusa 2, 00-493 Warszawa

Phone +48 22 219 5088

Services in Polish. Consultations with clients living in the United States are scheduled taking into account time zone differences.

Information on this website is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For individual matters, please contact the firm.

Warsaw Office +48 22 219 5088 Describe Your Case