Under China’s Civil Procedure Law, there are guidelines for how quickly cases should be heard:

• For simplified procedures, a hearing should take place within three months.
• For ordinary procedures, a hearing should occur within six months.

However, in reality, courts often face a backlog of cases and a shortage of staff. If a court manages to schedule a hearing within two to three months after a case is filed, that’s considered relatively fast.

In some courts with a heavy caseload, you might have to wait up to a year for a hearing. So, when it comes to litigation, patience is key.