New Civil Procedure Reforms Roll Out in Morocco and France

Morocco’s new civil procedure law (Law No. 58.25) will take effect on 24 August 2026. The accompanying circular, signed by Mohammed Abdenabaoui, president‑delegate of the Council Superior of the Judicial Power, outlines three major changes: judges must lift material‑incompetence objections within eight days, parties may contractually select the competent territorial court, and claims of 10,000 dirhams or less will no longer be appealable. The reforms aim to modernise the national judicial system and reduce procedural delays.

In France, ongoing reforms to the civil procedure code have elevated the pre‑trial “mise en état” hearing to a decisive stage. Judges now have expanded powers to resolve procedural exceptions and set case calendars, with about 80 % of disputes seeing a resolution at or after this hearing. The changes, driven by the Ministry of Justice, are reshaping litigation strategy for lawyers and firms across French courts.