Admiralty Court Forms UK: ADM1 to ADM21 Explained

At a glance

• What the ADM forms are: a dedicated set of court forms, ADM1 to ADM21, used only in the Admiralty Court and set out in Practice Direction 61 to the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Two starting forms: Form ADM1 for a claim in rem (against the ship or property); Form ADM1A for a claim in personam (against a person or company). A limitation claim starts with Form ADM15.
• Governing rules: CPR Part 61 and its Practice Direction 61, supplemented by Part 58 (Commercial Court) for admiralty claims in personam.
• Where claims are issued: the Admiralty Court, which sits at the Rolls Building, 7 Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL — part of the King's Bench Division of the High Court.
• Arrest of a ship: requires Forms ADM4 (application and undertaking), ADM5 (declaration) and, where relevant, ADM6 (consular notice); the warrant itself is Form ADM9, executed only by the Admiralty Marshal.
• Limitation claims: brought under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and the 1976 Limitation Convention (Schedule 7 to the Act), starting with Form ADM15 and ending in either a restricted decree (Form ADM18) or a general decree (Form ADM19).
• Collision claims: since rule changes on 6 April 2023, parties must disclose electronic track data (AIS, ECDIS, voyage data recorder) early, even where only one side holds it.
• Court fees: vary with the value of the claim or the remedy sought — always check current fees on GOV.UK before filing, as they are subject to change.

What the Admiralty Court is and why it uses its own forms

The Admiralty Court is a specialist part of the King's Bench Division of the High Court. Its jurisdiction is set out in section 20 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 and covers claims involving ships, cargo, collisions, salvage, towage, pilotage, mortgages over vessels, and limitation of liability under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Under CPR rule 61.2, certain claims — including claims in rem, collision claims, limitation claims and salvage claims — must be started in the Admiralty Court.

Because admiralty work has its own history and procedural features, it uses a dedicated set of claim forms and applications (the "ADM" series) rather than the standard county court or general High Court forms most litigators use day to day. Practice Direction 61 to CPR Part 61 sets out exactly which form applies to each step in the procedure.

Admiralty claims fall into three broad categories:

• Claims in rem — brought against the ship itself (or other maritime property), defined in section 21 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 and CPR rule 61.1(2)(c). This is what allows a vessel to be arrested as security for a claim.
• Claims in personam — brought against a person or company in the ordinary way, proceeding under CPR Part 58 (the Commercial Court rules) as applied by Practice Direction 61, paragraph 3A.2.
• Collision claims and limitation claims — each with their own dedicated procedure and forms under CPR rules 61.4 and 61.11 respectively.

If your dispute has no in rem element at all — for example, a straightforward shipbuilding or charter contract dispute between two companies — it may not need to go through the Admiralty Court at all. See the note on the Business and Property Courts below.

How to use this document

1. Identify the right type of admiralty claim. Work out whether your claim is in rem (against the ship or property), in personam (against a person or company), a collision claim, or a limitation claim. This decides whether you start with Form ADM1, ADM1A, or ADM15, and shapes everything that follows. Getting this wrong at the outset under CPR rule 61.2 can cause delay and cost.
2. Issue the claim form at the Admiralty Court. Admiralty claims are issued at the Admiralty Court at the Rolls Building in London, or filed electronically through CE-File. The claim form sets out the parties, the nature of the claim, and the remedy sought. Court fees depend on the claim's value or remedy sought — check current rates on GOV.UK before filing.
3. Serve the claim and handle acknowledgment. After issue, the claim form must be served according to Practice Direction 61, paragraph 3.6 (for claims in rem) or the ordinary service rules (for claims in personam). A defendant who wishes to contest an in rem claim files Form ADM2 within 14 days of service, per CPR rule 61.3(4). Missing this deadline can open the door to judgment in default under Form ADM13.
4. Deal with arrest, release and cautions if appropriate. If your case involves arresting a ship as security, you need Form ADM4 (application and undertaking), ADM5 (supporting declaration), and possibly ADM6 (notice to a consular officer). The warrant itself is Form ADM9, and the court's standard directions to the Marshal on arrest are recorded on Form ADM10. Cautions against arrest or release use Forms ADM7 and ADM11; release is requested on Form ADM12 and a caution against release is withdrawn on Form ADM12A.
5. Handle collision or limitation procedure as required. Collision claims require each party to file a collision statement of case on Form ADM3 (formerly known as a Preliminary Act), followed by a collision defence and, if needed, a collision reply, all verified by a statement of truth under CPR rule 61.4. Since 6 April 2023, the collision statement of case also requires early disclosure of electronic track data. Limitation claims use Form ADM15, with the shipowner seeking a decree capping liability under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. A defendant either admits the right to limit on Form ADM16 or disputes it with a defence on Form ADM16A; where a limitation fund is established, a claim against the fund is made on Form ADM20.

The full ADM form catalogue (ADM1 to ADM21)

The table below sets out every current Admiralty Court form, as published in the GOV.UK Admiralty forms collection and referenced throughout Practice Direction 61. Form numbers and titles are taken directly from that collection.

| Form | What it does | Governing rule | |------|--------------|----------------| | ADM1 | Claim form — Admiralty claim in rem | PD 61, para 3.1 | | ADM1A | Claim form — Admiralty claim (in personam) | PD 61, para 3A.3 | | ADM2 | Acknowledgment of service — Admiralty claim (in rem) | PD 61, para 3.4 | | ADM3 | Collision statement of case | CPR 61.4; PD 61, para 4.1 | | ADM4 | Application and undertaking for arrest and custody | PD 61, para 5.1 | | ADM5 | Declaration in support of application for warrant of arrest | PD 61, para 5.1(2) | | ADM6 | Notice to consular officer of intention to apply for warrant of arrest | PD 61, para 5.4 | | ADM7 | Request for caution against arrest | CPR 61.7; PD 61, para 6.2 | | ADM9 | Warrant of arrest | PD 61, para 5.5 | | ADM10 | Standard directions to the Admiralty Marshal | PD 61, para 5.6 | | ADM11 | Request for caution against release | CPR 61.8; PD 61, para 7.1 | | ADM12 | Request and undertaking for release | CPR 61.8(4); PD 61, para 7.4 | | ADM12A | Request for withdrawal of caution against release | PD 61, para 7.5 | | ADM13 | Application for judgment in default (acknowledgment of service, defence, or collision statement of case) | CPR 61.9; PD 61, para 8.1 | | ADM14 | Order for sale of a ship | CPR 61.10; PD 61, para 9.2 | | ADM15 | Claim form — Admiralty limitation claim | CPR 61.11; PD 61, para 10.1 | | ADM16 | Notice of admission of right of claimant to limit liability | PD 61, para 10.3 | | ADM16A | Defence to Admiralty limitation claim | PD 61, para 10.2 | | ADM16B | Acknowledgment of service — limitation claim | CPR 61.11(7)(b); PD 61 | | ADM17 | Application for restricted limitation decree | PD 61, para 10.5 | | ADM17A | Application for general limitation decree | PD 61, para 10.6 | | ADM18 | Restricted limitation decree | PD 61, para 10.5 | | ADM19 | General limitation decree | CPR 61.11(11); PD 61 | | ADM20 | Defendant's claim in a limitation claim | PD 61, para 10.14 | | ADM21 | Declaration as to inability of a defendant to file and serve a statement of case under a decree of limitation | PD 61, para 10.16 |

Note that Form ADM8 does not currently appear in the GOV.UK collection; the sequence runs ADM7 to ADM9. Always download the current version of each form from the GOV.UK Admiralty forms collection rather than relying on an older PDF, since forms are updated from time to time (several were last revised in 2023).

Starting a claim: ADM1, ADM1A and ADM15

Form ADM1 starts a claim in rem — against the ship, cargo or other maritime property. This is the route that allows a claimant to seek a warrant of arrest as security for the claim. Under CPR rule 61.3(2), the claim is started simply by issuing the in rem claim form; particulars of claim can be included in the form or served separately within 75 days.

Form ADM1A starts a claim in personam — a personal claim against a named individual or company, following the ordinary Commercial Court procedure under Part 58 as applied by Practice Direction 61, paragraph 3A.2.

Form ADM15 starts a limitation claim, brought by a shipowner or other person entitled to limit liability under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Unusually, only the claimant and at least one named defendant need appear on the claim form — other defendants may simply be described (CPR rule 61.11(3)).

Arrest, cautions and release: ADM4 to ADM12A

Arrest is one of the most consequential steps in admiralty procedure, because it gives a claimant security over a physical asset. The application (Form ADM4) must include an undertaking, and it is supported by a declaration (Form ADM5) verified by a statement of truth, setting out the nature of the claim, the property to be arrested, and the security sought (PD 61, para 5.3). Where the ship belongs to certain foreign states, a notice to the relevant consular officer (Form ADM6) must be served first, with proof attached to the declaration.

Once the court is satisfied, it issues a warrant of arrest (Form ADM9), valid for 12 months, which only the Admiralty Marshal may execute (CPR rule 61.5(8)). The court's standard directions to the Marshal are recorded on Form ADM10.

A person with an interest in a ship who wants notice before any arrest can file a request for a caution against arrest (Form ADM7); this is entered in the Register and is valid for 12 months, renewable. A caution against release (Form ADM11) works the other way — it prevents a ship already under arrest from being released without notice to the person who filed it. Release itself is requested on Form ADM12, and a caution against release can be withdrawn on Form ADM12A.

Collision claims: ADM3 and the collision procedure

Collision claims follow a distinct procedure under CPR rule 61.4. Each party files a collision statement of case on Form ADM3 — a modern successor to what used to be called a Preliminary Act — setting out, confidentially at first, the sequence of events and the allegations of fault each party relies on. Each party then files a collision defence responding to the other side's statement of case, and may file a collision reply.

Rule changes that came into force on 6 April 2023 expanded the questions in the collision statement of case and tightened disclosure of electronic track data — such as AIS, ECDIS or voyage data recorder records — within set timescales. Before the change, a party could hold back its own track data where the other vessel had none to exchange; that is no longer permitted, and a party must now disclose available track data early and explain in the statement of case if it did not preserve or cannot produce it. Courts have signalled they will take a strict approach to parties who fail to give an adequate explanation for missing data.

Limitation claims: ADM15 to ADM21

A limitation claim asks the court to cap the shipowner's total liability for a particular incident, under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 (set out in Schedule 7 to the Act). The claim starts with Form ADM15. A defendant who accepts the claimant's right to limit files a notice of admission (Form ADM16); one who disputes it files a defence (Form ADM16A) or, where relevant, an acknowledgment of service (Form ADM16B) to contest jurisdiction.

Where some but not all defendants admit the right to limit, the claimant can apply for a restricted limitation decree (application on Form ADM17, decree issued as Form ADM18), which binds only the admitting defendants. Where all served defendants admit the right to limit — or where the claimant proceeds despite a dispute — the claimant applies for a general limitation decree (application on Form ADM17A, decree issued as Form ADM19), which must be advertised so that other potential claimants against the fund can come forward. Claims against the established fund are then made on Form ADM20, and a defendant unable to file a statement of case in time must explain why on Form ADM21.

Court fees and where claims are issued

Admiralty claims are issued at the Admiralty Court, which sits at the Rolls Building, 7 Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL, or filed electronically via the CE-File system. Court fees for civil claims are set out in the GOV.UK fees schedule (form EX50) and are generally banded by the amount claimed, with a fixed fee for non-money remedies such as an order for the sale or possession of a ship. Fees change from time to time and admiralty claims can attract remedy-specific fees — always check the current fee on GOV.UK before filing, rather than relying on a figure quoted in an older document. A further hearing fee may apply if the case proceeds to trial.

Frequently asked practical points

Who can use these forms?

There is no legal requirement to be represented, but admiralty procedure is technical and the consequences of a mistake — particularly around arrest and limitation — can be significant and hard to reverse. Most parties instruct a solicitor with shipping experience, and specialist admiralty counsel for anything contested. If you are considering acting without a solicitor, read CPR Part 61 and Practice Direction 61 in full, together with the Admiralty section (Section N) of the Admiralty and Commercial Courts Guide, before taking any step.

What about alternatives to court?

Many shipping disputes are resolved by arbitration rather than litigation — commonly through a specialist maritime arbitration body, or by asking the Admiralty Court itself to arbitrate. This can be faster than full court proceedings. If your contract contains an arbitration clause, check it before issuing any ADM form, since the court may stay proceedings in favour of arbitration. See our guide to commercial arbitration for how that process works more generally.

Where do these forms sit alongside general civil procedure?

Admiralty claims in personam apply CPR Part 58 (the Commercial Court rules) except where CPR Part 61 or Practice Direction 61 says otherwise (CPR rule 61.1(3)). Related general civil procedure — for example on witness statements, disclosure, or applications to the court — may also be relevant. Our guide to county court forms and our county court legal glossary cover the general civil procedure terminology that also appears in admiralty claims. For definitions specific to shipping and admiralty practice, see our admiralty legal glossary.

What if my dispute is really a commercial or business dispute, not a shipping one?

Not every maritime-adjacent dispute belongs in the Admiralty Court. Contractual disputes between businesses that do not fall within section 20 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 — for example, a straightforward breach of a shipbuilding or charter contract with no in rem element — may instead belong in the Business and Property Courts or follow ordinary commercial litigation procedure. If arbitration is more appropriate than court proceedings, see our guide to commercial arbitration. If you already have a judgment and need to enforce it, see our guide on the enforcement of commercial judgments.

This is legal information, not legal advice

This guide explains how Admiralty Court forms and procedure work under CPR Part 61 and Practice Direction 61. It is general legal information about the law of England and Wales, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a solicitor-client relationship. It does not take account of the specific facts of your dispute, which can materially change which form, deadline, or procedural step applies to you.

LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and is not authorised or regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for the delivery of legal services. If your situation involves an actual or prospective admiralty claim — particularly arrest, limitation, or a contested collision claim — take advice on your specific circumstances before acting, whether from a solicitor with shipping experience or through our telephone legal advice service.

The law and forms described were accurate as at July 2026 and are subject to change. Always check CPR Part 61, Practice Direction 61, and the GOV.UK Admiralty forms collection for the current position before relying on anything in this guide.

Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next review due: July 2027 or on relevant rule change.