NTCAT Form 1 Initiating Application

NTCAT uses a single standardised form — Form 1 Initiating Application — for every type of proceeding it handles, from small claims to residential tenancy disputes. If you have been searching for a "Statement of Claim" form, stop: that belongs to the Local Court, and filing it at NTCAT will get your application rejected before anyone reads the substance.

Form 1 vs Statement of Claim

The NT Government's small claims web page still links to Local Court Statement of Claim templates in PDF and DOCX format. Those forms use different sections, different naming conventions, and different filing rules than NTCAT's Form 1. The two are not interchangeable. Download Form 1 directly from the NTCAT website.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Part A — Overview. Pre-filled by the registry after lodgement. It includes the file number and a warning notice to respondents. You leave this blank.

Part B — Applicant Details. Your full legal name, physical street address (not a PO Box — service requires a street address), email address, and mobile number. Providing an email address here constitutes consent to receive tribunal notices electronically.

Part C — Respondent Details. The respondent's full legal name and address. For companies, use the registered company name plus ACN from an ASIC search — not the trading name. For sole traders, name them as "John Smith trading as Top End Services." A PO Box is not sufficient; you need a physical address the documents can be served to.

Part D — Category. Tick the "SMALL CLAIM" checkbox. This determines which division of NTCAT handles your matter and which fee schedule applies.

Part E — Urgent Application. Only tick this if you need an emergency hearing — for example, a tenant facing immediate eviction or a contractor threatening to remove partially completed work. You must provide a written justification for urgency.

Part F — Orders Sought. State the exact dollar amount you are claiming. Itemise the principal debt, any contractual interest calculated from the default date, and whether you are seeking recovery of filing and service disbursements under s 132(2)(ba) of the NTCAT Act 2014. If you want those out-of-pocket costs back, tick "YES" here.

Part G — Grounds. A concise summary of the material facts, strictly capped at one page. Set out the contract date, agreed terms, work performed or goods provided, the default date, and the amount unpaid. Write in plain language — this is a tribunal, not a court. Do not attach evidence at this stage unless the registry specifically requests it.

Part H — Procedural Matters. Tick if you are attaching a Form 8 fee waiver application, requesting a late filing extension, or asking for an adjustment to the service timeline.

Part I — Signature. Sign and date the form. If you are filing by email, a scanned signature is accepted.

Where to Get the Form

Form 1 is available from the NTCAT forms page in Word and PDF formats. Download the current version, complete it on your computer or print and fill it by hand, then submit through one of the three filing channels: email to [email protected], post, or in person at the Casuarina or Alice Springs registry.

Common Errors That Delay Processing

Listing a trading name instead of the registered legal entity in Part C is the most frequent cause of enforcement problems later. Part G is strictly capped at one page. The Registrar may reject a filing if neither the prescribed fee nor a Form 8 fee-waiver request is submitted.

The NTCAT Small Claim Filing Guide provides line-by-line instructions for every section of Form 1, plus a claim calculation worksheet to get Part F right the first time.

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