N1 Claim Form
The N1 Claim Form is used to start a civil claim in the English courts. This is the primary form for initiating legal proceedings to recover money or seek damages.
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N1 Claim Form
About the N1 Form
The N1 Claim Form is used to start a civil claim in the English court. This is the primary document you'll need to initiate legal proceedings against someone who owes you money or has caused you loss or damage.
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Details on how to fill in this form are provided in our comprehensive guide.
View N1 Completion Guide →Related N1 Forms
Form N1
The main claim form used to start court proceedings.
Primary formForm N1A
Provides guidance to the claimant on completing the N1 form.
Guidance notesForm N1C
Provides additional information to the defendant when they are served with a claim.
Defendant informationAlternative: Money Claim Online
If your claim is for money only, you may alternatively use the Court Service's 'Money Claim Online' facility. This can be faster and more convenient than paper forms.
Visit Money Claim OnlineDownload Forms
The N1 form and guidance notes may be downloaded from the official government website:
Official N1 Claim Form Package
Includes the N1 claim form, N1A guidance notes, and N1C defendant information sheet.
PDF format • Updated 2025
When to Use Form N1
Suitable for:
- Unpaid invoices or debts
- Breach of contract claims
- Personal injury claims
- Property damage claims
- Return of goods or property
Requirements:
- Must send letter before action first
- Court fee required with submission
- Must be completed accurately
- Statement of truth must be signed
Writing Your Particulars of Claim
The particulars of claim are the most important part of your N1 form. This is where you set out the facts of your case and explain why the defendant owes you money.
What to Include:
- • The parties - who you are and who you are claiming against
- • The facts - what happened, when, and where
- • The legal basis - breach of contract, negligence, consumer rights, etc.
- • The loss - what financial loss or damage you suffered
- • The remedy - what you are asking the court to award you
- • Interest - whether you are claiming interest and at what rate
Before You File: Letter Before Action
Before issuing your N1 claim form, you must send a letter before action to the defendant. This is a requirement of the pre-action protocol and failure to do so can result in cost penalties.
Important: The court expects you to have given the defendant a reasonable opportunity to settle before issuing proceedings. A judge may penalise you on costs if you skip this step.
Next Steps
After downloading and completing your N1 form:
N1 Claim Form: Completed Example
Below is a fictional worked example showing how each section of the N1 claim form should be completed. This example is for educational purposes only and should not be copied directly. Your claim will have its own unique facts and circumstances.
Example scenario: Mr John Smith purchased a leather corner sofa from Quality Furniture Ltd for £1,500 on 15 September 2025. The sofa was delivered on 1 October 2025 with significant damage — torn upholstery, a broken frame, and missing cushions. Mr Smith contacted the company immediately but they refused to provide a refund or replacement. He sent a letter before action on 20 October 2025 giving 14 days to respond. The company did not reply.
Box 1 — Claimant Details
Manchester
M1 2AB
Box 2 — Defendant Details
Birmingham Road
Wolverhampton
WV1 4QR
Tip: For a limited company, use the registered office address from Companies House. For an individual or sole trader, use their trading or home address.
Box 3 — Brief Details of Claim
The Claimant claims the sum of £1,615.00 for breach of contract and/or under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, arising from the Defendant's supply of a damaged sofa on 1 October 2025, plus interest pursuant to s.69 County Courts Act 1984.
Tip: Keep this brief — one or two sentences summarising the type of claim and total amount.
Box 4 — Particulars of Claim
1. The Claimant is a consumer. The Defendant is a company engaged in the business of selling furniture.
2. On or about 15 September 2025, the Claimant entered into a contract with the Defendant for the purchase of one "Milano Corner Sofa" in brown leather (Order No. QF-20250915-1847) at a price of £1,500.00.
3. It was an implied term of the contract pursuant to section 9 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ("CRA 2015") that the goods would be of satisfactory quality.
4. It was a further implied term of the contract pursuant to section 10 of the CRA 2015 that the goods would be fit for their particular purpose.
5. It was a further implied term of the contract pursuant to section 11 of the CRA 2015 that the goods would match their description.
6. The sofa was delivered on 1 October 2025. Upon delivery, the Claimant discovered that the sofa was defective in the following respects:
- The leather upholstery was torn in two places on the left-hand section;
- The wooden frame was cracked along the rear support bar;
- Two of the four seat cushions were missing from the delivery.
7. The Claimant notified the Defendant of the defects by telephone on 1 October 2025 and by email on 2 October 2025, requesting a full refund under the short-term right to reject pursuant to section 20 of the CRA 2015.
8. The Defendant refused to provide a refund by email dated 5 October 2025, stating that the damage must have occurred after delivery, which the Claimant denies.
9. The Claimant sent a Letter Before Action dated 20 October 2025 in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims, allowing 14 days for a response. The Defendant did not reply.
10. By reason of the matters set out above, the Defendant is in breach of the implied terms set out at paragraphs 3 to 5 above.
11. By reason of the said breach, the Claimant has suffered loss and damage in the sum of £1,500.00, being the purchase price of the defective sofa.
AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS:
- The sum of £1,500.00;
- Interest pursuant to section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at a rate of 8% per annum from 1 October 2025 to the date of issue, and continuing at a daily rate of £0.33 until judgment or earlier payment;
- Court fees.
Tip: Use numbered paragraphs. Set out the facts in chronological order, cite the relevant law, describe the breach and your loss, and end with what you are claiming. If your particulars are too long for the form, write "See attached" and attach them on a separate sheet.
Box 5 — Statement of Value
I expect to recover:
Amount claimed breakdown:
| Cost of goods (sofa) | £1,500.00 |
| Court issue fee | £115.00 |
| Total claimed | £1,615.00 |
Tip: Tick the value band that matches your claim. The court fee depends on this amount. Claims up to £10,000 are normally allocated to the small claims track.
Box 6 — Interest
The Claimant claims interest under section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at the rate of 8% per annum.
How to calculate interest:
- Amount: £1,500.00
- Annual interest at 8%: £1,500 x 0.08 = £120.00 per year
- Daily rate: £120.00 / 365 = £0.33 per day
- From: 1 October 2025 (date of breach)
- To: date of issue of claim form
For example, if the claim form is issued on 15 November 2025 (45 days), the interest accrued would be 45 x £0.33 = £14.85.
Tip: You should state the daily rate so the court can calculate interest up to the date of judgment. Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 allows the court to award simple interest at up to 8%.
Box 7 — Human Rights Act 1998
Does your claim include any issues under the Human Rights Act 1998?
Tip: Most consumer and contract claims do not involve human rights issues. Select "No" unless your claim specifically involves a breach of rights under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Statement of Truth
"I believe that the facts stated in this claim form are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth."
Tip: If you are the claimant acting in person (a "litigant in person"), you sign the statement of truth yourself. If a solicitor is acting on your behalf, they will sign it. Making a false statement of truth is a contempt of court.
Disclaimer: This is a fictional example for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Every claim is different — ensure your form accurately reflects your own circumstances, facts, and the correct legal basis for your claim.
Court Fees for Filing an N1 Form
You must pay a court issue fee when you file your N1 form. The fee depends on the amount you are claiming. If you win your case, the court fee is normally added to the judgment and recovered from the defendant.
| Claim amount | Court fee (paper) | Court fee (online) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £300 | £35 | £25 |
| £300.01 – £500 | £50 | £35 |
| £500.01 – £1,000 | £70 | £50 |
| £1,000.01 – £1,500 | £80 | £70 |
| £1,500.01 – £3,000 | £115 | £105 |
| £3,000.01 – £5,000 | £205 | £185 |
| £5,000.01 – £10,000 | £455 | £410 |
| Over £10,000 | 5% of claim | 4.5% of claim |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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- N1: Main claim form
- N1A: Claimant guidance
- N1C: Defendant information
Alternative Options
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