N1 claim form
The claim form has a number of separate boxes to be completed.
The form is available from the court service web-site as a PDF (see links below).
The various sections of the form are listed below:
See also: court leaflet: EX301 - I'm in a dispute, what can I do?, EX302 - How do I make a court claim? For people who want to take a dispute to court and Form N1 and N1A
N1 header
Complete the header box, by entering the name of the court. Usually this will be the name of your local county court.
For example:
In the
The court will fill in the Claim number and Issues Date.
If the case is being started in the High Court the wording is different. Either:
In the
_______________ District Registry
In the
Royal Courts of Justice
Inserting the division (e.g. Queen's Bench' or 'Chancery') and the name of the District registry as required.
N1 claimant
This should include your full name and address including postcode and telephone number.
Individual
Provide your title (e.g. Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr), all your forenames and surname. Enter your full residential address including postcode and a telephone number.
Proprietor of a business (e.g. sole trader)
Enter your full name. If you trade under another name add 'trading as' followed by the trading title. For example:
Mr. Frederick Plummer trading as Plummers Heating Services.
The address can be either the full residential address or the principal address of the business if different.
Firm (e.g. partnership)
Enter the name of the firm followed by the words 'a firm'. The address given should be the firm's principal place of business or a residential address of one of the partners.
Limited Company
Enter the name of the company and either the registered office or the principal address for the business.
Other
Note: There are other options for overseas customers - and non company corporations.
Special cases
Note: There are a number of special cases where the claim is being brought on behalf of a person who cannot claim themselves. (eg child and patient under the MHA).
N1 defendant
The name and address details for the defendant follow the same rules as outlined previously for the claimant.
This should include their full name and address including postcode and telephone number.
Individual
Provide their title (e.g. Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr), all their forenames and surname. Enter their full residential address including postcode and a telephone number.
Proprietor of a business (e.g. sole trader)
Enter their full name. If they trade under another name add 'trading as' followed by the trading title. For example:
Mr. Frederick Plummer trading as Plummers Heating Services.
The address can be either the full residential address or the principal address of the business if different.
Firm (e.g. partnership)
Enter the name of the firm followed by the words 'a firm'. The address given should be the firm's principal place of business or a residential address of one of the partners.
Limited Company
Enter the name of the company and either the registered office or the principal address for the business.
Other
Note: There are other options for overseas customers - and non company corporations.
Special cases
Note: There are a number of special cases where the claim is being brought against a person who cannot claim themselves. (eg child and patient under the MHA).
N1 brief details
This needs to be a concise description of your claim and the remedy being sought (e.g. payment of money, damages, return of goods).
This entry can be kept very short. Fuller details of the claim go in the 'Particulars of claim' box.
N1 value
If the claim is for a fixed amount of money (known as a 'specified amount') then leave this box blank. Instead put the amount being claimed in the 'Amount claimed' box. (See later.)
If the claim is not for a fixed amount (known as an 'unspecified amount') you need to give the court some idea of the value of the claim. This will help the court decide how to allocate the case.
Enter one of the following:
"I expect to recover not more than £5,000"
"I expect to recover more than £5,000 but not more than £15,000"
"I expect to recover more than £15,000"
If you do not know the value of your claim put:
"I cannot say how much I expect to recover"
You should enter additional information if your claim includes a claim for personal injuries or is for housing disrepair.
for personal injuries
If your claim is for not more than £5,000, add one of the following:
"My claim includes a claim for personal injuries and the amount I expect to recover as damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity is not more than £1000"
"My claim includes a claim for personal injuries and the amount I expect to recover as damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity is more than £1000"
for housing disrepair
If your claim is for not more than £5,000 and includes a claim for housing disrepair then add, either:
"My claim includes a claim against my landlord for housing disrepair relating to residential premises. The cost of the repairs or other work is estimated to be not more than £1,000"
or:
"My claim includes a claim against my landlord for housing disrepair relating to residential premises. The cost of the repairs or other work is estimated to be more than £1,000"
N1 defendant's address
Fill in this box with the name and address of the defendant.
If there is more than one defendant, this box should be filled in with the residential or business address of each defendant.
N1 amount
If you are claiming for a specified amount, you should enter this in the 'Amount Claimed' box. You should also fill in the boxes for the fee and costs.
N1 particulars of claim
The particulars of claim can be entered in the box provided. Alternatively, they can be supplied in a separate attached document. It is also possible for the Particulars of claim to be served after the claim form.
The particulars should state the facts on which your claim relies. It should include any information required by any of the pre-action protocols.
The particulars should include details of any interest being claimed...
N1 claiming interest
If you are claiming for a fixed amount of money, you can also claim interest on the amount outstanding. This is usually referred to as 'section 69 interest'.
If both parties are businesses and the debt relates to a commercial transaction, then it may be more appropriate to use the provisions of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act. This allows for a higher rate of interest and for additional debt collection charges. Details can be found at late-payment-law.co.uk. Do not use this, if either you or the claimant is a private individual.
To claim section 69 interest you first have to work out the total amount of your claim - excluding interest and court fees. You are entitled to claim interest at 8% per annum on this amount. Work out the 'daily rate' by multiplying 'the amount of your claim' x 0.00022. You also need to count up the number of days from when the money became due up to the date on which you issue the claim. Multiply the daily rate by the number of days to work out the 'interest so far'. Then drop each of these numbers into the following paragraph:
The claimant claims interest under section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at the rate of 8% a year, from [date when the money became due] to [date of issue of claim] of £[interest so far] and also interest at the same rate up to the date of judgment or earlier payment at a daily rate of [daily rate].
This paragraph should then be included in your particulars of claim, probably as the last paragraph.
N1 statement of truth
This should be signed by the claimant, the claimant's solicitor or their litigation friend.
N1 address for documents
Complete this box if you wish to receive documents and/or payments at a different address to the one given under Claimant.
Typically, a solicitor acting on behalf of the claimant would put their own office address in this box. If an address is given it should be in England or Wales.