Going to court for a civil claim? Understand what happens at a hearing, who speaks first, and what legal terms mean. A free step-by-step guide to help you prepare and represent yourself with confidence.; The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.

Need to prepare a bundle for a civil court hearing? A step-by-step guide to creating a compliant paper bundle, drafting an index, and organizing your evidence. You will not need one in a small claim (see below). The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.

This guide is the first in a series about how to take someone to court to sort out a problem or disagreement. You can take someone to the civil court about broken contracts (often called ‘breach of contract’), money owed, compensation, and personal injury - including those caused by road traffic accidents or accidents at work. You might take someone to the small claims court, or use the fast-track process in a county court. This guide will take you through ten key questions to help you decide whether suing someone will be worth it or not. The information in this guide applies to England and

This guide is about dispute resolution and the ways you can use it to sort out a legal problem before or instead of going to court. It explains what your other options might be and how to use them effectively, including how to complain, negotiate, use mediation or arbitration services, or complain to an Ombudsman. This is called alternative dispute resolution. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.

Understand what civil mediation is, how it works, and whether it might help you solve your legal problem more quickly, cheaply, and easily than going to court. You can use civil mediation to deal with a problem with a product or service that didn’t work, a tradesperson who didn’t complete the agreed job, breach of contract, or when somebody owes you money and is refusing to pay. Or mediation can be helpful if you have been discriminated against by a product or service, or you want compensation because you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or you were treated unfairly at work

Learn how to identify the correct defendant in a small claim or fast-track case. A practical guide for litigants in person, covering common mistakes and key steps to naming the right defendant for a civil court case. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.

Before you start a court case, it's vital to check if they can actually pay you if you win. Suing someone with no money, assets, or insurance can be a waste of time and money. This guide provides a simple checklist of free and low-cost things you can do to find out if the person or company you plan to take to court will be able to pay you if you win. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.

Check the time limits for contract, negligence and personal injury claims in England and Wales. Practical help for litigants in person using the small claims court or fast track. This information applies to England and Wales.

This guide explains what evidence you will need to prove your case in a civil claim and what you need to do with it. It also explains why you should gather it as soon as possible and what to do to ensure it is not lost. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.

Understand the fees solicitors charge for their work and who pays them at the end of the case. Even if you don’t have a solicitor to help you, you may have to pay for the other side’s solicitor if you lose your case. If they win their case, litigants in person can ask the loser to pay for the time they have spent preparing the case. This guide explains those rules, and how to keep your legal costs to a minimum. It also explains the rules about who pays for the other court costs and expenses in a civil case. This guide explains legal costs in small claims and fast track cases only. The rules