4.  The applicant was born in 1938 and lives in Budapest. 5.  On 19 May 1997 the applicant's ex-partner filed an action against him, claiming the division of the common ownership of their property. Between 18 December 1997 and 12 June 2001, the Buda Central District Court held numerous hearings and obtained the opinion of an expert. 6.  On 10 October 2002 the court gave a partial decision, holding that the plaintiff had a ¼-share in the parties' flat. This decision was served on the applicant on 27 November 2002. 7.  On 13 December 2002 the applicant filed an appeal, which was dismissed on 6 January 2003 by the District Court for being out of time. 8.  On 28 January 2003 the applicant filed a request for the reinstatement of the proceedings, which was dismissed on 18 March 2003 by the Budapest Regional Court for being out of time. 9.  Subsequently the applicant lodged a request for the re-opening of the proceedings in their previously unsuccessful part. 10.  On 10 September 2003 the District Court suspended the examination of the remainder of the case pending the outcome of the re-opening proceedings. 11.  On 24 February 2004 the request for re-opening was dismissed. On 31 August 2004 the Regional Court rejected the applicant's appeal. 12.  On 10 May 2005 the examination of the remainder of the case was resumed before the District Court. On the same day, the parties concluded an in-court agreement, which was approved and declared final immediately.