EPL6 & EPL7 Forms UK: Court Proceedings Pack Guide

What this document is

The Court Proceedings Pack is the bundle of paperwork a claimant prepares when a low value EL or PL injury claim cannot be settled at Stage 2 of the portal process and has to move on to a Stage 3 determination by the court. EPL6 is Part A.

It sits on the court file and lists the parties, their representatives, the accident details and a full breakdown of every head of loss the claimant is pursuing, along with the defendant's position on each item. EPL7 is Part B.

It is used by the judge and shows the final offers each side has made and the fixed costs position. Part B is usually kept separate from the main court file until after the judge has made a decision, so that the final offers do not influence the assessment of the claim itself.

The forms are designed to work as a pair under the EL/PL Protocol and are standard across claims in this value bracket in England and Wales.

How to use this document

1. Confirm the claim belongs in the Protocol. Before reaching for EPL6 and EPL7, check that the claim started in the EL/PL portal, sits between £1,000 and £25,000, and has moved through Stages 1 and 2 without settling. If the claim has left the Protocol for another reason, a different route applies and the Court Proceedings Pack will not be the right set of forms to use.
2. Complete Part A (EPL6) with party and claim details. Fill in the claimant's and defendant's names, the representatives acting for each side, reference numbers, the date of the accident and contact details. Then work through each head of claim carefully: loss of earnings, care and services, medical expenses, damaged clothing, disadvantage on the labour market, loss of congenial employment, other past losses, future losses and any CRU recoverable benefits.
3. Record the defendant's response to every head of claim. For each item on EPL6, the defendant needs to indicate whether it is agreed or disputed. This is what allows the judge at Stage 3 to focus only on the items actually in dispute. Any interest claimed should also be recorded. Accuracy matters here, because the court will rely on the figures on the face of the form when making its assessment.
4. Sign the Statement of Truth and list unpaid disbursements. Part A must be verified by a Statement of Truth confirming the claimant believes the figures are correct. If a representative is signing on behalf of a firm, that needs to be indicated. Any unpaid disbursements, such as medical report fees or court fees, should be listed so they can be considered alongside the damages claimed.
5. Complete Part B (EPL7) with final offers and fixed costs. Part B records the claimant's final offer, the defendant's final offer and the Stage 1 and Stage 2 fixed costs already incurred. Once the judge has decided the value of the claim, the awarded figure is compared with the final offers to work out the costs consequences. Keep Part B separate from Part A when filing, in line with the Protocol.

Common questions