Starting a Civil Case and Court Tracks
Think of starting a civil case like following a recipe - there's a specific order you must follow. First, you'll need to try pre-action protocols like negotiation or mediation to resolve the dispute without going to court. This saves everyone time and money.
If that fails, you'll fill out an N1 form and pay a court fee based on how much compensation you're claiming. The court sends this form to the defendant, who has three choices: pay up, ignore it (which means you automatically win), or dispute it by filling out an N9 form.
Once a dispute is raised, a judge decides which track your case follows. Small claims handle disputes up to £5,000 (or £10,000 for property damage) - you can represent yourself here. Fast track covers £10,000-£25,000 and should be resolved within 30 weeks. Multi-track deals with complex cases over £25,000 that often involve multiple legal issues.
Quick Tip: Most people represent themselves in small claims court - you don't need expensive lawyers for simple disputes!