Preparing for court
The process of taking a case to a county court. Information about the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), the process of starting a case, and allocation of a case to one of three 'tracks'.
For information about tactics in specific cases, please refer to other relevant sections, such as:
- Challenging local authority decisions for information on challenging homelessness decisions
- Mortgage arrears: court action
- Squatters for information about court action against squatters.
Starting a case
Processes required for a client to take a case to court. The Part 7 general procedure, the Part 8 alternative procedure, and the Part 55 procedure for possession claims.
Civil Procedure Rules
Definition of the Civil Procedure Rules.
Part 7 - general procedure
The Part 7 procedure, which is normally used for starting most claims.
Part 8 - alternative procedure
The Part 8 procedure, which is used where a rule or practice direction requires or permits it, or where the claimant seeks the court's decision on a question that is unlikely to involve a substantial dispute of fact.
Part 55 - possession claims
The Part 55 procedure for claims for possession of land.
Online claims
Cases that can be started online.
Court fees
A court fee is usually payable when a claim or an action is started in a court or tribunal. Fees depend on the type of action being taken.
Allocating a case to a track
A list of different legal tracks that a case can be allocated to. General information about the fast track, small claims track and multi-track.
What to take to court
Documentation that should be brought to the court, and what type of documents will provide useful evidence at hearings for rent arrears, mortgage possession, and disrepair.
Evidence
What counts as evidence, and the different types of evidence that can be put before the county court.
