Employment law · Georgia
Find the right sick leave lawyer in Georgia
Illness should not put your job or your income at risk. Tell us what happened with your employer and we match you, free of charge, with a Georgian advocate who handles sick leave and dismissal disputes. You decide whether to instruct.
- Advocates registered with the Georgian Bar Association
- Sick leave, absence and dismissal matters
- Free, confidential matching within 24–48 hours
No obligation · Free · Confidential
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Before you instruct anyone
What a sick leave lawyer in Georgia can do for you
If illness keeps you away from work, the way your employer handles your absence — pay, absence records, or a decision to end your contract — can turn into a serious legal problem. A sick leave lawyer in Georgia can review what happened and explain the options available to you. Georgian employment relations are regulated primarily by the Labour Code, and disputes are heard by the ordinary courts: district (city) courts at first instance, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court of Georgia as the court of cassation. Because lawyers’ fees are freely agreed and no official tariff applies, costs vary widely between practices. We do not provide legal advice ourselves; we match you, free of charge, with a Georgian advocate who handles sick leave and dismissal matters, so you can decide with proper information.
Georgia in practice
How sick leave disputes work in Georgia
Georgia follows the continental civil-law tradition, so the rules that govern your case are set out in written codes rather than in binding precedent. Below is how the court structure, representation rules, costs and time limits work in practice when a sick leave problem becomes a legal dispute.
How a sick leave dispute reaches a Georgian court
Georgia follows the continental (civil law) tradition, so the framework comes from comprehensive written codes, including the Civil Code, the Civil Procedure Code and the Labour Code, rather than from binding precedent. A labour dispute begins before a district (city) court, where a magistrate judge may sit alone; appeals go to the courts of appeal and cassation to the Supreme Court of Georgia.
When an advocate is compulsory
Membership of the Georgian Bar Association is compulsory in order to practise as an advocate. Before a first-instance district (city) court you are not obliged to be represented and may appear in person or through an authorised representative. Representation by a licensed advocate becomes mandatory before the courts of appeal and the Supreme Court of Georgia, and at every level of criminal proceedings.
Court fees you should expect
State fees are fixed by the Civil Procedure Code. A non-property claim attracts GEL 100, rising to GEL 150 on appeal and GEL 300 on cassation, while a property claim costs 3% of the value in dispute subject to a minimum. Fees are reduced or waived for parties in the Unified Database of Socially Vulnerable Families who receive a subsistence allowance.
The language of the proceedings
The official language of Georgia is Georgian, and judicial proceedings are conducted in Georgian, with court decisions made in the name of Georgia. If you do not command the language, translation or interpretation must be arranged for court hearings. Filings, evidence and correspondence in a sick leave dispute will also normally need to be handled in Georgian.
State legal aid and affordability
Georgia maintains a state-funded legal aid system under the Law of Georgia on Legal Aid, administered by the Legal Aid Service together with the Georgian Bar Association. Persons registered in the Unified Database of Socially Vulnerable Families whose socio-economic index falls below the government threshold, and certain other categories, are entitled to free legal consultation and representation in criminal, civil and administrative proceedings.
Time limits that shape a sick leave case
Timing is often decisive. A claim over wrongful dismissal must be brought within one month, while contractual claims generally carry a three-year limitation period and other civil claims ten years. An appeal against a first-instance civil judgment is filed within 14 days, and a cassation appeal within 21 days. A Georgian advocate can assess which period applies to your situation.
Key time limit — Employment Law
Employment dismissal claim (wrongful termination) — 1 month. The short window for challenging a dismissal before a Georgian court.
All country-specific information on this page is drawn from official Georgian sources (Parliament of Georgia, the Georgian Bar Association and the Legislative Herald of Georgia) as consulted on the date of publication.
Common situations
When people look for help with sick leave in Georgia
Most enquiries we receive involve absence records, withheld pay or the end of an employment relationship while the person was ill.
Your employer disputes the absence
Your medical certificate is questioned, your absence is recorded as unjustified, or payment for the period of illness is refused. An advocate can review the paperwork and explain what the Labour Code and the courts expect in your circumstances.
You were dismissed while ill
Losing a job during or shortly after a period of illness raises specific questions about timing and procedure. Because a dismissal claim carries a very short one-month window, obtaining advice quickly matters more than in most civil disputes.
You are unsure which deadline applies
Georgian law uses different periods for different claims — one month for dismissal, three years for contractual claims, ten years generally. A specialist can identify the period that governs your case instead of leaving it to chance.
Why use our service
Matched with a Georgian advocate, not a directory list
We keep the process short and transparent, so you can speak to the right person quickly.
Specialisation first
We look for advocates whose practice includes employment and sick leave matters in Georgia, rather than sending you a generic list of firms in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi or elsewhere.
Free and without obligation
Matching costs you nothing and does not commit you to instructing anyone. You can speak to the advocate, ask about fees and decide afterwards whether to proceed.
Clear on costs before you start
Advocates’ fees in Georgia are freely agreed between lawyer and client, with no binding official tariffs. We encourage you to confirm the fee basis in writing before any work begins.
One case, one point of contact
You describe your situation once. We forward it to a suitable advocate who handles your type of dispute, so you are not asked to repeat the same background to several offices.
Also available in
Georgian advocates and neighbouring jurisdictions
Cross-border situations are common in the region. If your employment, contract or residence touches another country, tell us and we will take it into account when matching you.
Frequently asked
Questions about sick leave and employment disputes in Georgia
When should I contact a sick leave lawyer in Georgia?
If your employer questions your medical absence, withholds pay, records your absence as unjustified or dismisses you while you are ill, an advocate can review the facts and the documents. Because dismissal claims in Georgia must be filed within one month, early advice matters. Matching through our service is free and does not commit you to instructing anyone.
How long do I have to challenge a dismissal in Georgia?
A wrongful termination claim must be brought within one month, which is far shorter than the three-year period for contractual claims or the ten-year general limitation period for civil claims. If that window closes, the court may reject the claim. A Georgian advocate can confirm which period applies to your particular situation.
Can I appear in a Georgian court without a lawyer for a sick leave dispute?
Before a district (city) court at first instance you are not obliged to be represented by a lawyer and may appear in person or through an authorised representative. Representation by a licensed advocate — membership of the Georgian Bar Association is compulsory in order to practise — is required before the courts of appeal and the Supreme Court of Georgia.
What does a sick leave lawyer in Georgia cost?
Advocates’ fees in Georgia are freely agreed between the lawyer and the client, and there are no binding official tariffs, so prices differ between practices and cities. An advocate’s fees form part of the extra-judicial costs that a court may order the losing party to reimburse. Court fees are separate and fixed by the Civil Procedure Code.
Is free legal aid available in Georgia?
Georgia operates a state-funded legal aid system under the Law of Georgia on Legal Aid, administered by the Legal Aid Service together with the Georgian Bar Association. Persons registered in the Unified Database of Socially Vulnerable Families below the socio-economic threshold set by the government, and certain other categories, may receive free legal consultation and representation.
Are Georgian court proceedings conducted in English?
No. The official language of Georgia is Georgian, judicial proceedings are conducted in Georgian and court decisions are made in the name of Georgia. If you do not command the language, translation or interpretation must be arranged for hearings. A Georgian advocate will normally handle filings and correspondence in Georgian on your behalf.
Next step
Describe your situation and get matched
Tell us briefly what happened with your employer, where you work in Georgia and what you would like to achieve. We will match you with a Georgian advocate who handles sick leave and dismissal matters, free of charge and without obligation.