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Court fees for a small claim

Court fees are paid by the claimant up front and added to what the defendant owes if the claim succeeds. This guide sets out the fees in force from 13 July 2026 for issuing a small claim, going to a hearing, making an application and enforcing a judgment, and explains when each falls due.

Checked against official sources on 30 September 2026. Court fees from 13 July 2026; enforcement agent fees from 1 May 2026.

Issue fees (fee 1.1)

The fee to start a money claim depends on the sum claimed. The bands below are those in force on 13 July 2026 under Schedule 1 to the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008; the July 2026 fees order did not change them.

Three points catch people out:

• Interest counts. Where interest is claimed on a specified sum, the fee is calculated on the total of the claim and the interest. A £2,950 debt with £80 of interest is a £3,030 claim and pays £205, not £115.
• Unspecified means £10,000. If you do not identify the value of the claim, the fee is the one for a claim that is not limited. Estimate a figure and pay for that band; a blank amount box is charged at £10,000.
• No online discount. The lower fee for online claims was removed in May 2021. Online Civil Money Claims, Money Claim Online and paper form N1 all cost the same.

A counterclaim pays the same fee as if it were a separate claim. If a claim is amended to increase its value, the difference in fee is payable. Adding a party costs £69. The interest and fee calculator works out the band for your figures.

Hearing fees (fee 2.1)

A hearing fee becomes payable when the court fixes a trial date for a claim allocated to the small claims track. It is paid by the claimant, unless the case is proceeding on a counterclaim alone.

When it is due. Where the court gives 36 days’ or more notice of the trial date, the fee is payable at least 28 days before the trial. Where the court gives less than 36 days’ notice, it is payable within 7 days of the notice. If a Help with Fees application is refused, the fee is due within 7 days of the refusal or 28 days before trial, whichever is later. The notice of hearing states the date by which you must pay or apply for Help with Fees.

Application fees (form N244) from 13 July 2026

A request for judgment in default or on admission is not an application and carries no fee. An application by consent to adjourn a hearing, received at least 14 days before the hearing, is also free.

Enforcement fees from 13 July 2026

A judgment does not collect the money. Each enforcement method has its own court fee, which is added to the judgment debt.

See enforcing a judgment for how to choose, or use the enforcement chooser.

Enforcement agents’ fees are separate

The court fee for a warrant or writ is not the same as the enforcement agent’s own fees, which are fixed by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 as amended from 1 May 2026 and are recovered from the debtor, not from you, when enforcement succeeds:

Where nothing is recovered under a High Court writ, High Court enforcement officers will usually charge the creditor the compliance fee of £79 plus VAT. See bailiffs and High Court enforcement.

Help with Fees

Court fees can be remitted in full or in part for people with limited savings and income. Every small claims fee is under £1,420, so the savings test is: disposable capital of less than £4,250 (less than £16,000 if you or your partner are 66 or over). Those receiving income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Guarantee Pension Credit or Universal Credit with earnings under £6,000 a year pay nothing. Otherwise gross monthly income up to £1,420 (single) or £2,130 (couple), plus £425 for each child aged 13 or under and £710 for each child 14 or over, brings full remission, with partial remission above that up to £3,000 over the threshold. Apply online at helpwithcourtfees.service.gov.uk before you issue and quote the HWF reference, or send form EX160 with a paper claim. Each fee needs its own application, and a fee paid in the last three months can be refunded if you were eligible. Money Claim Online cannot be used with Help with Fees. See help with fees.

Getting fees back, and fixed costs on issue

If you win, the court may order the defendant to pay any court fees you have paid (CPR 27.14(2)(c)). Enforcement fees are added to the sum the debtor must pay.

The claim form also has a box for fixed costs on issue under Practice Direction 45 Table 2: £50 for a claim over £25 up to £500, £70 up to £1,000, £80 up to £5,000 and £100 over £5,000 where the court serves the claim, with slightly higher sums for personal service by the claimant. CPR 27.14(2)(a) allows ‘the fixed costs attributable to issuing the claim’ on the small claims track. Whether a claimant without a solicitor can claim these sums is unsettled: Table 2 sits in the section of Part 45 dealing with legal representatives’ charges, and there is no rule or official guidance saying an unrepresented claimant may or may not include them. Many do; it is for the court. See costs in small claims, or ask ClaimsBot.

Sources

• Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008, Schedule 1 (current fees)
• Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 (SI 2026/642)
• gov.uk EX50: civil court fees
• gov.uk: Make a court claim for money, court fees
• Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008, Schedule 2 (Help with Fees)
• Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 (as amended from 1 May 2026)
• Practice Direction 45: fixed costs (Table 2)
• Civil Procedure Rules Part 27 (rule 27.14 costs)