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Cases are dealt with differently in
Small Claims Court. It is supposed to be much simpler so that anyone can deal with their own case from start to finish without using a solicitor.
Ask your local County Court for a document known as a "Claims Form", you will need to complete this with details of what you are claiming and against whom.
You may also have to pay a court fee. This will depend upon how much you are claiming. You can claim this fee back from your opponent, if you win your case. (This is known as Fixed Costs).
If you start claim you will be called "Claimant" and your opponent will be called "Defendant".
The procedure starts with claimant filling out a standard form, which sets out details about claim and various parties. This is returned to Court office with appropriate fee.
A summons is then sent out to Defendant who may choose to pay up in full. However, they also have option to admit part of claim and pay that part or request to pay by instalments, or may also dispute claim in its entirety.
Cases are usually heard by a District Judge. However, if case is complex it can be referred to a higher judge known as a Circuit Judge.
If any part of claim is disputed, matter goes to a Court hearing where evidence is heard in informal surroundings, usually around table in judge's chambers.
Judges tend to be very patient with lay claimants, who will be nervous and unaccustomed to court procedures. However, interruptions, verbal abuse and unreasonable behaviour will be frowned upon.
You may freely reprint this article provided author's biography remains intact:
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
