Small Claims Pack Northern Ireland: What Is in It and What Each Form Means

A brown envelope arrives from Laganside Courts in Belfast. Inside is a stack of official paperwork — the NI small claims pack. If you have never been involved in a court case before, the forms can look intimidating and the legal terminology does not help. But the pack is actually straightforward once you know which document does what.

What You Receive

The Civil Processing Centre (CPC) sends the pack by first-class post to every respondent — the person being sued. It contains three core documents:

Form 125 — Notice of Application for a Small Claim. This is the claim itself. Part A, filled in by the applicant (the person suing you), sets out who they are, how much they are claiming, and the factual basis for the claim. The top header shows the official claim number and whether the claim is classified as "Liquidated" (a fixed amount like an unpaid invoice) or "Unliquidated" (an estimated amount like damage costs). Part B, filled in by the CPC, shows the return date and hearing court venue.

Check the top of Form 125 carefully. The claim number, the liquidated/unliquidated classification, and the total amount (principal sum plus any interest plus the court fee) are the three things you need to understand before deciding how to respond.

Form 126A — Notice of Dispute. This is the form you use if you want to contest the claim, either fully or partially. It has a blank text field where you write your defence — why the claim is wrong, or why you owe less than what is being demanded. It also has a section for lodging a counterclaim if the applicant owes you money from the same transaction. Filing a dispute costs nothing; filing a counterclaim carries a court fee (£244–£269 depending on the amount, as of April 2026).

Form 126B — Acceptance of Liability. This is the form you use if you accept that you owe the money. You can admit the full amount or a partial sum, and you can request to pay by instalments rather than in one lump sum. Be aware: admitting liability on Form 126B results in a formal court decree (a CCJ). An entry can remain on your credit record for six years, although you can apply to have it removed if you pay in full within 30 days of the order date and obtain a certificate of satisfaction.

Which Form Do You Send Back?

You send back one of the two response forms — 126A or 126B — not both. The choice depends on your position:

• You dispute the claim entirely → Form 126A
• You dispute part of the claim → Form 126A (set out what you do and do not accept)
• You want to counterclaim → Form 126A (complete the counterclaim section and pay the fee)
• You accept you owe the money → Form 126B
• You accept part but dispute part → Form 126B records an admission of liability in part; Form 126A is used to dispute all or part of the claim.

You do not send Form 125 back. That stays with you as your copy of the claim.

The 21-Day Deadline

From the date you receive the pack, you have 21 calendar days to get your completed form to the CPC at Laganside Courts or lodge it at a local County Court office, which will forward it. If day 21 falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day.

This deadline is strict. Separately, if the court has not received your response within 21 days of the date it received or issued the application, the applicant may apply for a default decree. A liquidated claim can be dealt with on the papers; an unliquidated claim requires an assessment hearing to set the amount. You may apply to set aside a default decree.

Post your completed form using Royal Mail Recorded Delivery so you have proof it was sent. Better still, hand-deliver it at the Laganside Courts counter and get a stamped receipt.

What Happens Next

Once the CPC receives your Form 126A, it sends a copy to the applicant and transfers the case file to the local County Court office listed on Form 125. That court then sends both parties a Notice of Hearing with the date and location.

If you sent Form 126B and offered full payment, the Chief Clerk issues a decree for the admitted sum. If you proposed instalments and the applicant accepts, the decree is structured accordingly. If the applicant rejects your instalment proposal, a District Judge decides the payment terms.

Getting Help Understanding Your Pack

Our Responding to a Small Claim in Northern Ireland guide includes a form-by-form walkthrough of the entire small claims pack, with annotated samples showing exactly what to write in each section. It also covers deadline calculation, postal proof tracking, and what to do if you have already missed the 21-day window.

See more Northern Ireland guides →