Form 1 Claim Tasmania — How to Fill In

Form 1 (Claim and Notice to Defendant) is the document that starts a minor civil claim in Tasmania's Magistrates Court. The form itself is a blank DOCX download from the court website — no instructions, no examples, no guidance on what the registrar will reject. Here's how to get it right the first time.

The Four Sections

Section A: Party Details

Enter the full legal name and address for service of both the claimant (you) and the defendant.

This is where most rejections start. The defendant must be named as a legal entity, not a business name. A sole trader is "Jane Smith trading as Smith's Cleaning" — run an ABN Lookup at business.gov.au to confirm. A company is "Apex Pty Ltd ACN 123 456 789" — pull the registered name and ACN from an ASIC Current Company Extract. A partnership lists each partner by name.

Use the defendant's address for service — their residential or business address. For a company, use the ASIC-registered office, not the shop you walked into.

Section B: Particulars of Claim

This is where you explain your case. The registrar and magistrate both read this section, so it needs to be:

• Factual, not emotional. "On 15 March 2026, I entered a written agreement with the defendant for bathroom renovation at a fixed price of $12,000. I paid a $4,500 deposit on 16 March. The defendant did not commence work and has not returned the deposit despite my letter of demand dated 1 June 2026." That's what a good particular looks like.
• Chronological. Date of agreement, what was agreed, when the breach happened, demand sent, amount outstanding.
• Specific on the numbers. Show how you calculated the claim. If it's a simple unpaid invoice, state the invoice number, date and amount. If it's multiple invoices, list each one with dates and amounts that total to the claimed sum.

Don't attach your entire email thread or 50 photos at this stage. Attach the key contract, invoice or quote. Bulk evidence is for the hearing.

Section C: Remedy and Monetary Summary

List separately:

• The principal sum (up to $15,000 for minor civil claims)
• Pre-judgment interest if you're claiming it — state the daily rate and the statutory basis (Section 25 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Division) Act 1992 for statutory interest, or the contractual rate if your agreement specifies one). Interest can't be compounded.
• The filing fee ($147 for claims up to $5,000; $284.20 for $5,001 to $15,000)

Section D: Signature and Declaration

Sign and date the form. If a company is the claimant, an authorised officer signs.

Filing

Lodge the original plus three copies at your nearest Magistrates Court registry (Hobart, Launceston, Devonport or Burnie) with the filing fee. The registry stamps your copies, gives you a matter reference number and returns the stamped copies for you to serve on the defendant.

You can lodge in person, by post or (subject to registry directions) electronically. The registry will reject forms that are missing a signature, omit the filing fee or don't name a proper legal entity.

After Filing

You have one year to serve the stamped form on the defendant. Once served, the 21-day response clock starts; days from 23 December through 7 January are not counted toward the defence deadline. Keep the filing receipt and matter number — you'll need them for every subsequent document.

For Form 3 (Affidavit of Service), default judgment instructions and the full claim process, see our Tasmania minor civil claim guide.

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