Form N9 UK: Acknowledgment of Service Explained

What this document is

Form N9 is the standard court form used in England and Wales to acknowledge that you have received a claim form and particulars of claim. It is sent out by the court along with the claim, and defendants complete and return it to confirm how they intend to respond.

There are broadly three choices: admit the claim in full, indicate an intention to defend all or part of it, or dispute that the court has the right to hear the matter at all. The form itself is short, but its purpose is significant.

Filing it within the required window extends the time you have to prepare and serve a full defence, taking the deadline from 14 days after service of the particulars of claim to 28 days. It also formally puts the court and the claimant on notice that you are engaging with the process.

Missing the deadline is risky because it opens the door for the claimant to apply for default judgment, which can be entered without any further hearing.

How to use this document

1. Check the claim details at the top of the form. Look carefully at the court name, the claim number, and the names listed as claimant and defendant. These should match what appears on the claim form you received. If your name is spelled incorrectly or recorded wrongly, write your correct full name followed by the phrase 'described as' and then the incorrect version used by the claimant. 2. Provide an address for service. This is the address where court documents and correspondence from the claimant should be sent. If you are handling the case yourself, use your home address or, for a business, your principal place of business. If a solicitor or other legal representative is acting for you, their business address goes here instead. You can also add fax, DX and email details where appropriate. 3. Tick the box that reflects your position. The form asks you to indicate whether you intend to defend all of the claim, defend part of it, admit the claim, or contest the jurisdiction of the court. Think carefully before ticking, because disputing jurisdiction is a distinct procedural step and must be followed up with a separate application within the time limits set out in the Civil Procedure Rules. 4. Sign and date the form correctly. An individual defendant should sign personally and include their date of birth. If you are signing for a company or other corporation, state the position you hold, such as director or company secretary. For a partnership, any partner or someone authorised by a partner can sign. Where the defendant is a child or a protected party, the litigation friend or their legal representative signs. 5. File the completed form with the court on time. Send or deliver the signed form to the court office named at the top of the claim form, keeping a copy for your own records. The form must reach the court within 14 days of service of the particulars of claim. Once filed, you then have 28 days from service of the particulars to prepare and serve your full written defence.