Form N500 UK: Director Disqualification Claim Form

What this document is

Form N500 is a court claim form specifically designed for applications brought under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. Unlike the general N1 claim form used for most civil proceedings, N500 reflects the particular procedural requirements that apply when a claimant seeks to have someone disqualified from acting as a company director.

Applications of this kind are most commonly brought by the Secretary of State or the Official Receiver following the insolvency of a company, but other bodies with standing under the Act may also use the form. The form captures the court in which proceedings are being issued, the name of the company to which the conduct relates, the full details of the claimant and the respondent director, and the formal statement of the order being sought.

It is accompanied by evidence setting out the conduct alleged to make the person unfit to be concerned in the management of a company. Completing N500 correctly is the first procedural step in what can become a detailed and heavily evidenced set of proceedings.

How to use this document

1. Choose the correct court. Director disqualification claims can be issued in a county court with jurisdiction or in the High Court. High Court claims are handled either in a District Registry or in the Companies Court at the Rolls Building in London. The choice depends on where the company's registered office sits and the nature of the claim, so check the Practice Direction before filing.
2. Complete the 'In the Matter of' heading. Paragraph 5.1 of the Directors Disqualification Practice Direction requires the claim to be headed with the name of the company whose affairs give rise to the application. Enter the full registered name of the company in this section exactly as it appears on the Companies House register, including any suffix such as Limited or plc.
3. Fill in the claimant details. Enter the full name of the person or body bringing the claim and an address for service in England and Wales. Where the claimant is the Secretary of State or the Official Receiver, use the formal title and the relevant address for correspondence. Include a telephone number and email if one is used for service.
4. Fill in the defendant details. Give the director's full forenames and surname and a residential address in England and Wales if known. If the respondent is sued in some other capacity, such as a partner in a firm or a proprietor of an unincorporated business, use the last known residence or principal place of business as the address for service, following the Practice Direction's rules.
5. State the order sought and file with supporting evidence. Set out clearly that a disqualification order under the 1986 Act is being sought, including the period applied for if known. N500 must be filed together with the evidence in support, typically an affidavit or witness statement exhibiting the conduct relied on, along with the applicable court fee.

Common questions