Form N218 UK: Notice of Service on a Partner Guide

What this document is

Form N218 is a short court notice used to tell a named individual that a claim has been issued in a way that affects them, either as a partner in a firm or as a person who controls or manages the partnership's business. It is not a claim form in itself.

The claim itself is issued separately under the usual Civil Procedure Rules, and the N218 then serves as the formal notice attached to service so the recipient knows the basis on which they are being brought in. This matters because partnerships can be sued in the firm's name, and the question of which individuals may face personal enforcement is a distinct one.

The form records the claim number, the parties, and the capacity in which the recipient is being served, whether as a partner, as a person in control or management of the business, or both. It must be signed and dated before being served.

Getting the capacity right is important, because it affects how the proceedings may progress and what steps the recipient can take in response.

How to use this document

1. Confirm the claim is already issued. Before preparing Form N218, make sure the underlying claim against the partnership has been properly issued at court and you have a claim number. The N218 is a notice attached to service, not a substitute for the claim form itself, so it only becomes relevant once proceedings are live and the parties are formally identified on the court record.
2. Identify the correct recipient and capacity. Work out whether the individual is being served as a partner of the firm, as someone in control or management of the partnership business, or in both capacities. This is not a tick-box exercise. The capacity affects how the person can respond and what exposure they may face, so take time to check the factual position before completing the form.
3. Fill in the form accurately. Enter the claim number, the full name of the claimant, the full name of the defendant, and tick the appropriate capacity box. Make sure the names match exactly what appears on the claim form to avoid confusion or a later argument that service was defective. Small discrepancies can cause real problems down the line.
4. Sign and date the notice. The claimant or the claimant's legal representative should sign and date the form. This is a formal court document, so treat it with the same care you would any signed notice in litigation. Keep a clean copy on file for your own records before it is sent out.
5. Serve the notice on the recipient. Serve the completed N218 on the individual alongside the claim form, following the rules for service in the Civil Procedure Rules. Make a contemporaneous note of when and how service was effected, because you may need to prove service later if the recipient does not respond or disputes that they received it.

Common questions