After you start a civil claim

Summary

Understand what happens and what you have to do after you start a civil claim and before you get to the final hearing. This guide shows you what you have to provide to the court in a civil court case and explains the process of 'allocation' and 'directions', what the do with the 'pre-trial checklist', how to prepare a 'chronology', what to do if the other side doesn't obey the court's instructions, or what to do if you cannot. It is part of a series about taking someone to the civil court to sort out a problem or disagreement. You can start a civil claim about money owed, broken contracts (often called ‘breach of contract’), compensation, and personal injury - including road traffic accidents and workers compensation. You might take someone to the small claims court, or use the fast-track in a county court. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales. 1 Getting started 2 Choosing your route through the civil justice system – allocation 3 How the court manages the progress of your case and tells you what to do next – directions 4 Telling the other side what evidence you have and showing it to them - disclosure and inspection 5 Telling the court how your case is.

Key information

• •you have started a civil claim in either England or Wales, or are responding to one started by someone else, and
• •your case involves a claim for £25,000 or less, and
• •you are representing yourself (you are a litigant in person), and
• •you are not eligible to have your case paid for by legal aid, a trade union, or insurance.
• •a family case (such as an application for a domestic violence injunction or a divorce),
• •a housing disrepair or housing possession case including mortgage possession,
• •an injunction (including a court claim about anti-social behaviour)
• •a case involving defamation (that is libel or slander) or
• •a tribunal case (such as a discrimination or employment case).
• •Witness statements and expert reports,
• •How to prepare a trial bundle and index.
• •N1 form - you applied for your claim through post.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [After you start a civil claim](https://www.advicenow.org.uk/get-help/going-court/small-claims-and-civil-court/after-you-start-civil-claim)

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