Pillar Guide · Updated July 2026
UK Civil Court Fees: A Complete Guide for 2026/27
Taking a dispute to the civil courts in England and Wales involves fees at several stages — issuing the claim, and often a further fee if it proceeds to a hearing. This guide explains how court fees for money claims are calculated, small claims track costs, help available for people on a low income, and how fees are usually recovered from the losing party.
Fees to Issue a Money Claim
To start a money claim in the County Court, the claimant must pay an issue fee, which is calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed for larger claims but set at fixed banded amounts for smaller sums, with claims made online through Money Claim Online generally attracting a lower fee than the same claim issued on paper. Fees rise in steps as the value of the claim increases, up to a fixed maximum for the largest claims.
Small Claims Track Fees
Most claims up to £10,000 are allocated to the small claims track, designed to be a relatively low-cost, informal way of resolving disputes without needing a solicitor, and the issue fee for these claims is set out in bands linked to the amount claimed, with the exact fee published and updated periodically by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
Fast Track and Multi-Track Fees
Higher-value or more complex claims are allocated to the fast track or multi-track, which involve higher issue fees reflecting the greater value at stake, and typically involve more formal case management, disclosure obligations, and potentially costs orders against the losing party that go well beyond just the court fees themselves.
Hearing Fees
If a small claims track case cannot be resolved without a hearing, an additional hearing fee is payable, again set in bands according to the value of the claim, on top of the original issue fee. Fast track and multi-track cases also involve their own separate hearing or trial fees, which can be significantly higher than small claims hearing fees.
Other Common Court Fees
Beyond issuing and hearing a claim, other fees apply at different stages of civil litigation and enforcement, including applying for a County Court Judgment to be enforced through a warrant of control, applying for a charging order against property, or applying for permission to appeal, each with its own separate fee set out in the court fees schedule.
Help With Fees (Remission)
People on a low income or receiving certain means-tested benefits may qualify for 'Help with Fees', which can reduce or completely remove the requirement to pay a court fee, based on an assessment of income, savings, and household circumstances carried out at the time of applying. Applications for fee remission are made alongside the claim, typically through the same online system used to issue it.
Who Ultimately Pays the Fees
In most cases, if a claimant wins their case, the court can order the losing party (the defendant) to reimburse the court fees the claimant paid, in addition to any judgment sum awarded, though this depends on the claim succeeding and the losing party actually being able to pay. If a claim is unsuccessful, the claimant generally cannot recover the fees they have already paid.
Money Claim Online
Money Claim Online (and its successor digital services) allows straightforward money claims up to a certain value to be issued electronically, which is usually cheaper than issuing the same claim on paper and is the most common route for individuals and small businesses pursuing straightforward unpaid debts or breaches of contract.