Preston H wrote:
We don't know enough about what the original poster wants, or how much money he has spent thus far, to be able to say whether he should hire an attorney to discuss this matter with. For example, if the original poster has paid $100 to a freeancer, we could offer advice that he he won't be able to recoup that money through an international lawsuit without spending far more than the amount of money he has lost.
How do you know that it wouldn't cost less than $100 to go through an international lawsuit?
There's this paradox I've experienced ... from a plaintiff position, a domestic lawsuit may be more costly than an international one. For example the service of process, court filling fees ... you'd think it must cost alot in a international case ... in fact, under some international agreements it may cost you nothing, such costs are waived, or services facilitated at very low rates, or supported by the responding country authorities which will oblige the respondent to repay.
I don't dismiss the importance of an attorney in a lawsuit but some matters can be dealt without involving one. The amount owed may be insignifiant but the plaintiff's expenses incurred with the lawsuit may be ordered to be supported by the respondent.
In some countries, like the U.S., you may be able to request by phone the procedures and the forms to file with a court, in person, by mail or via online platforms, and it's free of charge, regardless if it's a domestic case or international. It isn't legal advice but it's information that it could cost from the start at least a few hundreds to obtain from a lawyer. Some may pay less than $100 to achieve the same result for which some may pay tens of thousands, it may take three months while others may finalize after three years. Chances are that there are alot more people not taking an action overthinking how much it would cost, as well that an order may not be enforceable if the other party lives in another country.
International agreements are a framework of collaboration between countries. These agreements are implemented in a country by enacting domestic regulations. Some countries may not even require a party to be from a country member of that international agreement to file a lawsuit. Domestic legislature is enacted before ratifying an agreement. It's a complex system, while at the same time very simple. It's complex when you think of what it would take to achive a result in a lawsuit ... it's simple because the legislator already thought and solved through regulations all those things before enacting. In practice things may be complicated because you may not be able to find a lawyer to advice you, or find that little piece of information you need.
Anyways, in commercial and civil matters there are already means to file lawsuits and enforce regardless of location. At present, there may be agreements/regulations for specific matters but the laws are changing, evolving ... for example the EU already started the process of preparing for accession to the Hague Judgements Convention (civil and commercial matters), this act would make things even more easier in the next few years on enforcing civil and commercial foreign orders.
