All our clients involved in a legal process know that, in recent years, our judicial system has not exactly been a model of speed. However, there is some hopeful news:
the recent reform of the Civil Procedure Act (LEC) recognizes that people over 80 years old deserve more attention and faster resolution of their cases.
What does the LEC reform say?
Royal Decree-Law 6/2023 of December 19 has introduced several improvements to ensure that seniors do not have to wait an eternity for their legal matters to be resolved. The key changes include:
- Priority processing: Cases involving people aged 80 or older should be handled more quickly. We say “should” with some caution because, in practice, we know this does not always happen.
- Support and assistance: If the legal system is already a maze for the average citizen, imagine what it’s like for someone over 80. For this reason, professional facilitators can be involved to ensure that seniors understand the process and are themselves understood.
- More accessible hearing schedules: If a senior needs to attend a hearing or trial, efforts will be made to schedule it at a more convenient time. No more early morning court sessions without coffee or waiting until the last hours of the day.
Our mission: ensuring this is enforced
On paper, this all sounds great, but the reality is that courts are overloaded. No matter how well a law is written, its implementation is often another story.
At our law firm, we will do everything possible to ensure that these measures are not just empty promises. We will demand that the courts enforce this new rule and that seniors receive the priority they have been promised.
Faster justice or just an illusion?
We would love to say that this reform will make the judicial process fast and efficient from now on. But being realistic, we know that good intentions alone are not enough.
Our commitment is to continue insisting on and demanding compliance with this law. We will apply pressure where necessary and use all legal tools at our disposal to ensure that your case does not gather dust in a forgotten file. Because, as we all know, justice delayed is justice denied. We will keep working to make this reform a real change, not just a statement of good intentions.
Maria D. García Santos