Small claims, plain English.
Legislation changes, court updates, and practical analysis for UK small claims — written from the Civil Procedure Rules, not from Reddit.
Tribunal Time Limits Double to Six Months from 1 October 2026 — Who It Helps and Who It Doesn't
The three-months-minus-one-day rule that has governed tribunal claims for decades doubles on 1 October 2026. It is genuinely good news — but the transitional rule means the date you were dismissed decides which limit applies to you, and breach of contract claims stay on the old clock.
Bailiff Fees and Notice Periods Changed on 1 May 2026: What It Means If You Are Enforcing a Judgment
If you won a judgment and are choosing between county court bailiffs and High Court enforcement, the fee tables changed on 1 May 2026 and the debtor now gets 14 days' notice instead of seven. Here is what the new regulations say and what it means for your decision.
Court Fees Rose on 13 July 2026 — But Not the Ones Small Claimants Pay
The July 2026 fee order raised almost 200 court and tribunal fees. If you are bringing a small claim, the good news is that the issue fee and hearing fee bands you rely on did not move. Here is what changed, what did not, and the table to check against.
How Much Does It Cost to Take Someone to Small Claims Court? (2026 Fees)
Issuing a small claim costs between £35 and £455 depending on how much you are claiming. Here is the full fee table, the hearing fee most people forget about, what you can recover from the other side, and how to pay nothing at all if you are on a low income.
Letter Before Action: What It Must Say (and What Happens If You Skip It)
Courts expect you to give the other side a genuine chance to settle before you issue. Here is what a letter before action must contain, how long you must give them, and what judges do to claimants who skip this step.
You Won and They Still Have Not Paid: How to Enforce a County Court Judgment
Winning is the easy half. The court will not chase your money for you — you have to choose an enforcement method and apply. Here are the five options, what each costs, and how to pick the right one.
Your Court Bundle Matters More Than Your Arguments — A Practical Guide to Getting It Right
Your court bundle is often the single most important thing you bring to a small claims hearing. Here's what judges actually want, based on Practice Direction 27A and the things that make district judges quietly despair.
Employment Tribunal Claims Are Up 23% — Here's What's Driving It
Employment tribunal single claims are up 23% year-on-year according to the latest MoJ statistics. The reasons are more complex than any single headline suggests — and the trend isn't slowing down.
5 Mistakes People Make When Filing on Money Claims Online
Filing a claim on Money Claims Online looks straightforward until you get it wrong. These five mistakes trip up thousands of claimants every year — and some of them can kill your case before it starts.
What the Renters' Rights Act 2025 Means for Deposit Disputes in 2026
Your landlord won't return your deposit. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 has quietly changed the landscape — but the route to getting your money back is still through small claims court. Here's exactly how to do it.
Section 21 Abolished: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know (May 2026)
Section 21 "no fault" evictions end forever on 1 May 2026. Here's everything landlords and tenants need to know about this historic change, key transition dates, and what replaces Section 21.
Section 8 Eviction: Complete Guide to Grounds for Possession (2026)
From May 2026, Section 8 becomes the only way landlords can evict tenants. Here's your complete guide to all grounds for possession, how they work, and how to defend yourself.
Renters' Rights Act 2026: The Complete Guide for Landlords and Tenants
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 brings the biggest changes to renting in 40 years. From Section 21 abolition to new tenant protections, here's your complete guide to what changes, when, and how it affects you.
Anthropic's Claude Legal Plugin: What It Means for People Representing Themselves
Anthropic's Claude Cowork legal plugin sent shockwaves through the legal industry, wiping $285 billion off tech stocks in a week. But what does it actually mean for ordinary people with a small claims dispute?
Mandatory Mediation for Small Claims: What Changed and What It Means for You
Since 22 May 2024, most small claims disputes under £10,000 in England and Wales are automatically referred to mandatory mediation. Here's what it means for your case and how to prepare.
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