CASE FILE — REFERENCE
Court Fees
Issue fees by claim value, fee remission, and what costs a successful claimant can recover.
The fees below are the County Court issue fees for money claims, set by the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 and published in the HMCTS EX50A schedule. They apply to claims filed on or before 12 July 2026. Fees increase from 13 July 2026 under the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 — around 170 fees rise by 2.6%, in line with 2024/25 inflation. Confirm the fee against the current schedule before filing on or after that date.
Fee Schedule
| Claim Value | Issue Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £300 | £35 |
| £300.01–£500 | £50 |
| £500.01–£1,000 | £70 |
| £1,000.01–£1,500 | £80 |
| £1,500.01–£3,000 | £115 |
| £3,000.01–£5,000 | £205 |
| £5,000.01–£10,000 | £455 |
A separate hearing fee applies if the claim proceeds to a small claims hearing, ranging from £27 for claims up to £300 to £346 for claims exceeding £3,000. It is payable in addition to the issue fee.
Fee Remission
The Help with Fees scheme (form EX160, or the online equivalent) reduces or waives court fees for claimants on a low income. Full remission is granted automatically to claimants receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit, subject to a disposable capital limit. Claimants who do not receive a qualifying benefit are assessed instead on gross monthly income and disposable capital; above roughly £16,000 in disposable capital, remission is unlikely regardless of income. The application must be made before the fee is paid — remission is not available retrospectively as a routine matter.
What You Can Recover
A successful claimant on the small claims track recovers the court fee itself, but legal costs are not recoverable from the losing party as a general rule — this is what keeps the track accessible to litigants in person. The exceptions are narrow: a court may award further costs against a party who has behaved unreasonably, costs may follow a contractual term providing for them, and fixed costs of £260 apply where the claim includes an injunction or an order for specific performance.
Beyond the court fee, a successful party can also recover: reasonable travel expenses for attending the hearing, loss of earnings for the party and witnesses up to £95 per person per day, and expert's fees up to £750 per expert where expert evidence was permitted.