Legal Disputes for Foreigners in Taiwan

Core Legal Questions Before Starting Proceedings

Can Foreigners File Civil Lawsuits in Taiwan?

Foreign nationality alone does not prevent a person from bringing or defending a civil claim. We must still check international jurisdiction, the correct parties and standing, the claim, evidence, limitation periods, court fees and service. A foreign company’s capacity, continued existence, representative authority and corporate authorization need their own verification; they are not established simply by identifying an individual shareholder.

The defendant’s location, the place of performance, the nature of the dispute and any valid forum or arbitration agreement may matter. Taiwan’s domestic venue rules should not be treated as an automatic answer to every international jurisdiction question.

Does Taiwan Law Always Apply?

Jurisdiction asks which court may hear the case. Applicable law asks which law governs the substantive issue. A Taiwan court may need to apply foreign law; a contract choosing foreign law does not by itself exclude Taiwan proceedings.

Under the Act Governing the Choice of Law in Civil Matters Involving Foreign Elements, contractual obligations generally require analysis of an effective choice of law or the closest connection. Torts, property rights, corporate internal matters, divorce, marital property, parent–child relationships and inheritance have distinct rules. A child’s habitual residence may be relevant to jurisdiction and practical arrangements; it is not a universal substitute for the Act’s applicable-law rules. Mainland-related matters also require separate statutory analysis.

Can You Retain a Taiwan Lawyer from Overseas?

You can contact FDLAW from abroad to discuss the dispute, a conflict check, service scope and fees before engagement. Depending on the client and proceedings, we may need identity or company records, an engagement agreement, a power of attorney, proof of representative authority and Chinese translations. Notarization, authentication or other verification is required where the relevant rules or court require it, rather than as one universal package for every overseas client.

Can You Participate Without Speaking Chinese?

We explain court documents, evidence and strategy in English. Taiwan court proceedings generally use Chinese, and interpretation and document translation must be arranged as required by law and the court. A lawyer’s English ability does not replace a legally required interpreter. An English contract or message may need a Chinese translation for court use; retain its original and complete context.

Are Foreign Plaintiffs Required to Provide Security for Litigation Costs?

Under Article 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure, a plaintiff without a domicile, office or place of business in Taiwan may be ordered to provide security on the defendant’s application. This is not a nationality-based surcharge or an automatic filing requirement for every foreigner. Statutory exceptions include the uncontested part of a claim and sufficient assets in Taiwan to cover litigation costs; the timing rules in Article 97 also matter.

What Happens After a Taiwan Court Judgment?

Review any appeal deadline and whether the judgment is final or otherwise enforceable. Winning a claim does not itself recover money: enforcement requires a proper legal basis and assets that can be reached, with possible competing creditors and costs. Settlement may remain an option. For foreign judgments and overseas arbitral awards, the recognition and enforcement route must be assessed separately.

English Communication Grounded in Taiwan Legal Practice

FDLAW combines Taiwan civil and commercial litigation with English contract analysis, corporate and financial records, and cross-border evidence coordination. We explain procedural choices and work with overseas clients and foreign counsel on the Taiwan aspects of a dispute.

Charles Lee | Managing Partner holds a PhD in Law from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and previously served as Associate Director in the legal department of Deloitte Taiwan. His corporate and accounting-related legal experience informs the assessment of transactions, financial documents and shareholder disputes.

Initial contact can begin with a short English summary. Include the parties’ names for a conflict check, the dispute, relevant dates and any urgent court deadline. Detailed sensitive records can follow through the channel agreed with the firm.

Discuss Your Taiwan Dispute in English

Tell us who is involved, what happened, where the parties and assets are located, and whether you have received court documents. We will assess the available material before discussing scope and fees. This page provides general information, not a prediction of the result in an individual case.

If the matter involves a police investigation, arrest or criminal detention, use our criminal defense service for foreigners. For broader consultation arrangements, see bilingual legal consultation.

Official Legal Resources

Legal materials checked on 7 November 2026: Code of Civil Procedure, Article 96; Act Governing the Choice of Law in Civil Matters Involving Foreign Elements; Family Act, Article 53; Civil Code; Judicial Yuan’s civil litigation notice for foreign parties. The applicable rules and documents depend on the matter.