Understand the hearings that might happen in your civil case – what happens at them and what you have to do in them. This guide is part of a series about using the civil court to sort out problems about broken contracts (often called ‘breach of contract’), money owed, compensation, and personal injury - including road traffic accidents and accidents at work. You might be dealing with a small claim, or be using the fast-track process at the county court.    

Understand how to prepare a trial bundle and index in a fast track case. You will not need one in a small claim (although see below for more advice).This is part of a series of guides about sorting out a dispute and going to a civil court.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales only.

Understand how to appeal against a decision made by a judge in a county court (also called a county court judgement, or CCJ). This guide is part of a series of guides about sorting out a dispute using the civil court.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales only. 

This overview of the process of taking someone to court is designed to give you an overall picture of what is involved in a typical county court case, either for a small claim that is not using the online money claim service or a fast track claim. It will not help you decide what to do in your case because your case will be different. But it may make the process seem a bit less daunting and help you keep track of where you are. It is part of a series of guides that explains how you can take someone to the small claims court or use the fast track of a county court to sort out a disagreement about money owed, broken contracts (often called ‘breach of contract’), compensation, and personal injury.

This guide is about the law in England and Wales only. 

If you are thinking about or have started taking a claim for compensation for ‘whiplash’ or other injuries caused in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault you need to read this. Understand if the new rules apply to you, and how to make your car accident claim for compensation either way. It will show Understand how to use the new online Official Injury Claim system to negotiate with the other drivers' insurer about what amount of compensation you are due without having to go to court, and how you start a claim to go to court if you need to. Some people call this a whiplash claim or a car accident injury claim.    

 

You may be able to get help with court fees or not have to pay a fee at all, if you are on a low income or get certain welfare benefits. Here, we explain what help is available and how to apply.

This information applies to England and Wales.

If you have received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) it can be hard to know what to do. It is rarely possible to get free legal advice to help you decide. Understand the most crucial things to know about the Single Justice Procedure. Examples of minor criminal offences that may have led you to receive a SJPN are watching TV with no TV licence, failing to ensure your child attended school, most motoring offences, cycling on a footpath, and travelling without a valid ticket.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales. There are different rules about cases in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Understand how going to court works and what to expect when the other people or organisations involved in the case do have a lawyer. If you are going to court, or are thinking about it, and you cannot afford to pay a lawyer to advise and represent you, this advice guide is for you. It also explains how to prepare for court without a lawyer, the skills you need to get you through the process and gives you practical tips on how to make your case as well as you can.

More and more court hearings have been taking place by video or phone call. These types of hearings are often called ‘remote’ hearings. Understand more about these types of hearings and what you need to do if the court tells you that your hearing will take place by video or phone. This guide also has useful information on how to prepare and manage your case if you don’t have a lawyer to help you.

This guide explains how your right to protest is affected by the new protest laws - the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (PCSC) 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023. It will be particularly useful if you might be treated unfairly at a protest or demo.

The information in this guide applies to people over 18 in England and Wales.