Do I have to go to mediation before I can sue someone in Malta?

Mandatory mediation before litigation in Malta is not a universal requirement for all civil disputes; rather, it is specifically required in certain defined categories, most notably in family law matters such as personal separation and divorce, where mediation before the Civil Court (Family Section) is a required preliminary step under Maltese family law procedure, but this general requirement does not automatically extend to ordinary commercial or debt-related civil claims, which can typically proceed directly to the appropriate court, whether that's the Small Claims Tribunal, the Court of Magistrates (Civil), or the Civil Court depending on the amount and nature of your claim. That said, even where mediation is not a strict legal requirement, it is often still a sensible practical step to attempt before committing to the time and cost of full litigation, since a straightforward debt dispute can sometimes be resolved through direct negotiation or informal mediation more quickly and cheaply than going through the full court process, particularly if the other party is genuinely willing to engage constructively. If mediation doesn't appeal to you or the other party is unresponsive, you remain free to proceed directly with a formal claim through the appropriate court based on the amount and nature of the debt owed.