Check what it might cost to make an employment tribunal claim

Summary

There are a few situations where there’s a risk that you might have to pay costs. For example, this might be if: * you behaved very badly in the way you dealt with your case * you turned down a good offer to settle There’s no limit to how much you could be asked to pay if you lose. You can avoid having to pay costs if you take the following steps. You must have good reasons for making your claim. Check your claim satisfies the legal tests and that you have evidence to support it. Don't hold back any information about your claim which could affect its outcome. If this only comes out at the hearing, the judge might order you to pay costs. If you lie at the hearing and are found out, you might be ordered to pay costs. The judge might ask you to do certain things before the hearing, such as gather evidence or disclose certain documents. These requests are known as ‘directions’ and will be in documents called ‘orders’. If you don't do what the tribunal has asked, you might be ordered to pay costs. If you don't turn up to the tribunal hearing, the judge might make a judgment anyway and could order you to pay costs. If you can’t be at the hearing, make sure you tell the tribunal and your.

Key information

• your case had no chance of success
• you behaved very badly in the way you dealt with your case
• you turned down a good offer to settle
• is behaving unreasonably - for example by not disclosing documents
• isn’t complying with other directions from the tribunal
• There are a few situations where there’s a risk that you might have to pay costs. For example, this might be if:
• you behaved very badly in the way you dealt with your case
• There’s no limit to how much you could be asked to pay if you lose. You can avoid having to pay costs if you take the following steps.
• You must have good reasons for making your claim. Check your claim satisfies the legal tests and that you have evidence to support it.
• Don't hold back any information about your claim which could affect its outcome. If this only comes out at the hearing, the judge might order you to pay costs.
• If you lie at the hearing and are found out, you might be ordered to pay costs.
• The judge might ask you to do certain things before the hearing, such as gather evidence or disclose certain documents. These requests are known as ‘directions’ and will be in documents called ‘orders’. If you don't do what the tribunal has asked, you might be ordered to pay costs.

Practical guidance

• Source: Check what it might cost to make an employment tribunal claim

Related topics

More in this area

• Can I go to an employment tribunal?
• Challenge your redundancy
• Check how much redundancy pay you can get
• Check what happens if you win your employment tribunal case
• Check your employment status