Small Claims Forms Northern Ireland

Which Forms You Actually Need

Northern Ireland uses its own court forms, published by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS). You can download them from the Department of Justice website. If you have found Form N1, N205A, or anything from HM Courts & Tribunals Service online — those are for England and Wales and will be rejected by the Civil Processing Centre (CPC) in Belfast.

Here are the forms that matter for a small claim in Northern Ireland:

The Small Claims Application Form

This is the form you use to start your claim. Whether you file online through the Small Claims Online portal or on paper by post, the information required is the same:

• Your details: full name and address
• Respondent details: full legal name, address (including postcode), and trading name if applicable
• Preferred hearing venue: the County Court where you want the hearing if the claim is disputed
• Claim type: liquidated (fixed sum) or unliquidated (estimated amount)
• Statement of facts: a plain-language description of what happened and why money is owed
• Amount claimed: principal debt, any interest, and the court fee
• Declaration: your signature confirming the details are accurate

Write the statement of facts in straightforward language. You are telling the judge what happened, not making a legal argument. Stick to dates, amounts, and facts.

If filing on paper, send three copies with your payment (cheque or postal order payable to "Northern Ireland Courts & Tribunals Service") to the CPC at Laganside Courts, Belfast.

Form 125 — Notice of Action

You do not fill this in yourself. Form 125 is the official notice the CPC sends to the respondent as part of the Small Claims Pack after your application is accepted. It tells the respondent that a claim has been made against them, the amount, and the deadline to respond.

Form 126A — Notice of Dispute

The respondent uses this form to contest your claim. If they return Form 126A within 21 days, they are saying they disagree with what you are claiming and want a hearing. The form asks them to set out their grounds of defence.

When a Form 126A is filed, the case transfers from the CPC in Belfast to your chosen local County Court for a hearing before a District Judge.

Form 126B — Notice of Acceptance of Liability

If the respondent accepts that they owe you money but cannot pay all at once, they use Form 126B to propose a payment plan. You then decide whether to accept their proposal or ask a judge to review the terms and set a different schedule.

A decree is issued with a "Stay of Execution" attached, meaning formal enforcement is suspended as long as the respondent keeps up the agreed payments.

Form ER1 — Fee Exemption or Remission

If you are on a low income or receiving qualifying benefits, Form ER1 lets you apply for an exemption from the court filing fee. Submit it with your application, along with supporting evidence such as benefit letters or income statements. You can apply retrospectively within six months of paying the fee.

Tips for Getting the Forms Right

Name the respondent correctly. A company must be named exactly as registered with Companies House, not by a trading name. A sole trader is named as the individual plus their trading name (e.g. "Mary Smith trading as Smith Decorating").

Choose the right claim type. A claim for a specific unpaid sum (invoice, deposit) is liquidated. A claim for an estimated loss (repair costs, damage) is unliquidated. Getting this wrong does not doom the claim, but it sets the wrong expectations for the hearing.

Be specific in the statement of facts. Include dates, amounts, and a clear sequence of events. Avoid opinions or emotional language.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of completing each form, with examples for common claim types, the Northern Ireland Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full filing process.

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