What Form N180 is for
The questionnaire both parties complete after a defence is filed, telling the court about mediation, witnesses, experts and hearing dates.
Who files it: Both the claimant and the defendant, once a defence has been filed.
The official form is published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Download the current version from GOV.UK rather than reusing an old copy, because the forms change.
When to use it
- The court has sent a notice of proposed allocation to the small claims track.
- You want the free HMCTS telephone mediation before a hearing, or want to say why it is not suitable.
- You need to tell the court about witnesses, expert evidence, or dates you cannot attend.
Deadline and fee
Deadline: By the date on the notice of proposed allocation, usually 14 days from when it was sent.
Court fee: No fee for the questionnaire. The hearing fee (from £27 to £346 on the small claims track) is paid by the claimant later. (EX50 fee list)
If you are on a low income or benefits you may not have to pay court fees. Apply with Form EX160, Help with Fees. Fees you do pay are added to the amount the other side owes if you win.
Work out the full cost of a claim, including the hearing fee, with the court fee calculator or see the fees for a claim of a given amount.
How to complete it
Every County Court form follows the same rules: use the claim number exactly as it appears on the court’s letters, give full names and addresses for each party, write dates in full, and sign the statement of truth in your own name. A statement of truth is a promise to the court that the contents are true, and a false one is contempt of court.
The toolkit prefills the N180 from your case, flags the mediation decision, and lists the witnesses and documents you have already uploaded so nothing is left off.
See the Small Claims Toolkit →Questions people ask
Should I agree to mediation on the N180?
Usually yes. The HMCTS small claims mediation service is free, takes about an hour by phone, and settles a large share of cases. Since 2024 most small claims under £10,000 are referred to it automatically.
What if the other side does not return their N180?
The court can strike out their claim or defence after a warning. Do not wait for them: file yours on time and tell the court if theirs is missing.
CourtPilot is an information and document-preparation service, not a law firm. Nothing on this page is legal advice. Court fees change; the figures here were checked against the published EX50 on 2026-08-29.