County Court Forms UK: How to Start a Claim

What this document is

The County Court is the main civil court for England and Wales. It hears disputes between individuals, between individuals and businesses, and between businesses themselves, covering things like unpaid debts, faulty goods and services, housing possession, contract disagreements, and personal injury claims below a certain value threshold.

Higher value or more complex matters may be dealt with in the High Court instead. County Court forms are the standardised documents the court uses to process each stage of a claim. Form N1 is the claim form used to start most money claims.

N9 covers the defendant's response. N244 is the general application notice used when either party needs the court to make a specific order during proceedings. N245 deals with varying an instalment order, N160 and N161 relate to appeals, and N208 is used for claims that do not involve a substantial dispute of fact.

Using the right form at the right time keeps your case on track and avoids the frustration of having paperwork returned by the court office.

How to use this document

1. Work out what type of claim you are bringing. Before selecting a form, be clear on what you are asking the court to do. Are you claiming a fixed sum of money, seeking possession of a property, applying for an order against an existing claim, or appealing a decision? The form you need depends directly on this answer, and getting it wrong usually means starting again.
2. Gather your evidence and particulars. The court needs to understand your side of the story in writing. Put together copies of contracts, invoices, correspondence, photographs, and anything else that supports what you are saying. You will need to set out the facts clearly on the form itself or in attached particulars of claim, so organising your material first saves time and reduces the risk of leaving something important out.
3. Choose the correct form and complete it carefully. Download the right form from gov.uk and read the guidance notes that sit alongside it. Fill in every relevant section, use the defendant's full legal name and current address, and be specific about the amount claimed or the order you want. Unclear or incomplete forms are often rejected by the court office and sent back for correction.
4. Pay the court fee. Issuing a claim or making an application generally involves a fee, and the amount depends on the value of the claim or the type of application. Check gov.uk for the current amount, as fees are reviewed periodically. If your income is low, you may be able to apply for help with fees using the EX160 process, which can reduce or remove the charge.
5. Submit the form and keep copies. You can issue many claims online through the Money Claim Online service, or you can post or hand deliver paper forms to the court. Whichever route you take, keep copies of everything you send and note the date. Once the court has processed your paperwork, it will send the claim to the defendant and timelines for response begin to run.