How To Take Someone to Court

A free independent guide to taking somebody to the Small Claims Court in the UK - 2012

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Small Claims Court Forms (from hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk)


It's actually quite difficult to find relevant court forms & info on the all-encompassing official govt. website(s).
These are the small claims court forms that I found particularly useful during my case:

If you want to take someone to court (known as making/starting a Claim) you use the N1 form, or MCOL (see below). 
I'd also recommend the 'EX' prefixed documents (below) which provide a simple, clear description of court procedures.

Starting Your Claim

N1 Claim Form
The N1 is catchily entitled 'Claim form Part 7', use this form to start your court action (make your claim). Although personally, I wouldn't bother with the N1 - I'd use Money Claim Online (MCOL) instead, which effectively has this form built-in.

N1A Notes for claimant on completing a claim form
Notes on the above N1 form, this document is a worthwhile read even if you don't go down the N1 route (as I advise).

Small Claims 'EX' Documents

HM Courts 'EX' Documents/Forms describe Court procedures and are a worthwhile read: recommended

EX301 I'm in a dispute - what can I do?
EX302 How do I make a court claim?
EX304 I've started a claim in court - what happens next?
EX306 The small claims track in civil courts.

Enforcing a Judgment

See also my guide to enforcing the judgment
and the excellent HM Courts document: EX321 I have a judgment but the defendant hasn't paid - what do I do?

Applying for specific enforcement options:
N323 Request for Warrant of Execution -  For more info see: EX322 How do I ask for a warrant of execution? 
N337 Request for Attachment of Earnings Order -  For info: EX323 How do I ask for an attachment of earnings order?
N349 Application for Third party debt order -  For info: EX325 How do I apply for a Third party debt order/Charging order? 
N379 Application for a Charging Order on land or property (For info see EX325 above)
N380 Application for a Charging Order on securities (For info see EX325 above)

Court Fees

EX50 is the Master Listing of all HM Courts fees; i.e. in the High Court, County Court, Civil and Family Court. 
EX50 Civil and Family Court Fees. High Court and County Court

EX160A Describes the various exemptions to Court fees, e.g. for people on Low Income/JS Allowance etc.
EX160A Court fees - Do I have to pay them?

Other Forms

N149 Allocation Questionnaire (Small Claims)
You will be sent the AQ by the Court in due course, I wouldn't worry about it for now, but it's useful if you want to get an understanding of what the Court requires later in the process, when things start getting serious.

N225 Request for judgment (specified amount)
For use when the Defendant does not respond to your Claim or admits your Claim; under those circumstances use this form to request the judgment and formally end the Case.
The term 'specified amount' above means for claims of a fixed sum, e.g. £1000. If your claim is for an unspecified amount (i.e. the amount is to be decided by a Judge) use N227 to request the judgment.


The official 'Master List' list of all available HM Courts Forms can be found here: http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/FormFinder.do (select County Court from the 'Available types' pull-down list).