JUSTClaim

Small Claims Guides

Everything you need to take someone to court without a solicitor.
Court process walkthroughs, dispute-specific guides, and free tools.

Tools & Topic Guides

Court fees, deposit disputes, flight delay claims, and how to write your particulars.

Dispute Guides

Step-by-step guides for specific types of claims — breach of contract, unpaid invoices, builders, and more.

Contract

Breach of Contract Claim

What constitutes breach, limitation periods, what you can claim, and how to file.

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Companies

How to Sue a Company

Find their registered address, send a letter before action, and file without a solicitor.

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Invoices

Unpaid Invoice Recovery

Recover unpaid invoices with statutory interest under the Late Payment Act.

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Next Steps

No Response to Letter Before Action

They ignored your letter. Here's why that helps your case and what to do next.

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Landlords

Recover Unpaid Rent

A step-by-step guide for landlords to claim rent arrears through the county court.

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Builders

Builder & Tradesman Disputes

Poor workmanship, abandoned jobs, broken contracts — how to take a builder to court.

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Contracts

Contract Disputes

Faulty goods, broken agreements, money owed — guides for every type of contract claim.

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The Court Process — Step by Step

A complete walkthrough of the small claims court process, from first steps to enforcement.

1
Introduction & Overview
How the court system works, jurisdiction, and claim tracks.
2
How It Works
The end-to-end small claims process explained.
3
Starting a Claim
Who can claim, what you can claim for, and where to start.
4
Letter Before Action
The formal letter you must send before going to court.
5
Pre-Action Protocol
What the rules require you to do before filing.
6
Filling in the N1 Form
Step-by-step guide to completing the claim form.
7
Particulars of Claim
How to write the legal basis of your claim.
8
Costs & Timeline
Court fees, hearing fees, and how long it takes.
9
Money Claim Online
Using HMCTS Money Claims Online to file digitally.
10
Processing
What happens after you file your claim.
11
Mediation
Free mediation and how it works in small claims.
12
Defended Claims
What to do when the defendant files a defence.
13
Enforcement
How to enforce a judgment if they don't pay.
14
County Court Judgment
What a CCJ means and how it affects the defendant.
15
Witness Statements
How to prepare a witness statement for your hearing.

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