Recent changes in the rules and fees

Changes that affect small claims in England and Wales, most recent first, as reflected in the app and guides.

2026

20 July 2026: claimant names are recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (published after a transitional period ending 19 October 2026).
13 July 2026: court fees uprated by the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026: applications £126 / £321, warrant of control £96, attachment of earnings, third party debt and charging orders £139, order to obtain information £69, High Court writ £82. Issue fees for money claims and small claims hearing fees were not changed.
1 May 2026: enforcement agent fees uprated (county court warrants: £79 / £247 + 7.5% over £1,900 / £116; High Court writs: £79 / £200 + 7.5% over £1,200 / £520 / £550) and the notice of enforcement period extended from 7 to 14 clear days, or 28 on a debt adviser's request.
2026: the small claims automatic mediation pilot (PD 51ZE) was extended to run to 6 April 2027 (the practice direction page was updated on 6 April 2026).
March 2026: the High Court confirmed in Bunina v Nasibov that service by an instant messaging app (Telegram, like WhatsApp) may be ordered where the account is shown to be the defendant's and in use.

1 July 2025: the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention came into force for the UK (recognition of judgments abroad).
6 April 2025: the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 were replaced by Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (aggressive practices by traders towards consumers, relevant to debt collection).

5 November 2024: automatic mediation extended to Online Civil Money Claims submitted from 11am that day.
8 October 2024: Online Civil Money Claims opened to claims between £10,000 and £25,000.
22 May 2024: free HMCTS telephone mediation became a required step for defended money claims of £10,000 or less.
6 April 2024: litigant in person hourly rate raised to £24 (PD 46).

Checked on 30 September 2026.