Court fees follow the claim amount — they are not US-style fee-shifting of all lawyer time.
Accepting a civil case requires an acceptance fee calculated from the amount in dispute on a national schedule (plus possible preservation, expert and enforcement fees). The loser commonly bears court fees; lawyer fees are usually each party’s own unless a contract or statute says otherwise. Reducing the claim to save fees can cap recovery. Foreign parties may need to consider security for costs in some settings. This page does not reprint the fee table — it moves by notice. Arbitration costs are a different schedule.
4 questions before you choose the route.
This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.
What is the amount in dispute?
Drives the acceptance fee.
AmountPreservation/expert extras?
Add-ons.
ExtrasAny contract on lawyer-fee shifting?
Exception to the default.
SHAArbitration instead?
Different cost world.
ForumWorking rule: Map the regulated role before marketing or launch in China.
The signal ledger.
These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.
Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.
Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.
Questions people ask before they build.
Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.
Do I pay fees if I lose?
You often bear court fees. Lawyer time is usually yours regardless.
Are small claims cheaper?
Yes, the scale is progressive. Confirm the current brackets.
Primary authorities
Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.