How to Start Court Proceedings

Anyone who wishes to start court proceedings can find out the address of his local court from a mobile phone directory, his citizens’ advice bureau, the town hall or the police station. In a county court case, the litigant will usually have to fill in the court forms which set out his case. These forms can be obtained from the court office. (Citizens Advice The defendant in court proceedings will be given details of when and where the court sits in a notice which will be served on him/her.

In the High Court the notice is called a writ, in the county court a plaint, and in the magistrates’ court a summons.

Legal page last ppdated on December 14, 2020