Other Court Forms UK: Rare Forms Explained (2025)

What this document is

The forms grouped on this page are the ones that do not sit neatly inside the main families of court paperwork. They cover a mixed bag: starting a complaint in the magistrates' court, proving that a document has actually been served, asking the court to force disclosure from a government department, and complaining about the conduct of a certificated bailiff.

You will typically only come across one of these forms if a particular procedure or rule sends you to it, rather than because you are using it as part of a general claim. Because they are used less often, they can be harder to find information about, and the guidance that does exist is often written for court staff rather than members of the public.

The forms themselves are still available through HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and most can be downloaded from gov.uk. What tends to cause difficulty is not completing the form itself, but understanding when it is the right one to use and what has to happen before or after you file it.

How to use this document

1. Identify the correct form for your situation. Work out which procedure you are actually engaged in before picking a form. A complaint in the magistrates' court is a different animal to a civil claim, and an affidavit of service is only needed where an affidavit (rather than a witness statement) is specifically required. If you are unsure, check the court order or correspondence that prompted you to start looking.
2. Download the current version from gov.uk. Forms are updated periodically and older versions can be rejected by court staff. Always pull the form directly from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service pages on gov.uk rather than using a copy you found elsewhere. Save both a blank copy and your completed version so you have a clean template if you need to redo it.
3. Complete every relevant section accurately. Fill in case numbers, party names, and court details exactly as they appear on existing paperwork. Any mismatch between the name on your form and the name on the court file can cause delays. Where a section does not apply, write 'N/A' rather than leaving it blank, so the court can see you have considered it.
4. Check whether a fee or supporting evidence is needed. Some of these forms attract a court fee and some do not. Others need to be accompanied by a witness statement, exhibit, or sworn declaration. Check the current fee position on gov.uk and read any practice direction that applies to the procedure, so you do not have the form returned for missing material.
5. File or serve the form in the right place. Depending on the form, you may need to file it at a specific court, serve it on another party, or send it to a third party such as HMRC or the Home Office. Keep proof of posting or delivery, and diarise any deadline for a response so you can chase or take the next step if nothing happens.

Common questions