Choice of Court

Question 1

Who has unlimited jurisdiction over tort and contract cases?

Answer 1

The general rule is that the County Court has unlimited jurisdiction to hear all contract and tort cases.

Question 2

What value does the claim have to be, to be started in the High Court?

Answer 2

Ove £100,000. If so, then the claimant can choose either the High Court or the County Court.

Question 3

What happens if a claim value is less than £100,000?

Answer 3

It must be started in the County Court

Question 4

Where the claimant can choose between the High Court and County Court, what are the three scenarios that a claim should be started in the High Court in?

Answer 4

A) The financial value of the claim and the amount in dispute

B) The complexity of the facts, legal issues, remedies or procedures involved

C) The importance of the outcome of the claim to the general public

Question 5

If a claim is started in the County Court and is only for an amount of money, where should the claim form be sent?

Answer 5

The County Court Money Claims Centre

Question 6

If the claim is started in the County Court and requires a hearing, where should the claim form be sent?

Answer 6

The defendant’s home County Court or the claimant’s preferred hearing centre

Question 7

Can claims be issued online?

Answer 7

For specified claims which are less than £100,000 these can be issues online via Money Claim Online. These must be for no more than one claimant and no more than two defendants

Question 8

What are the three divisions of the High Court?

Answer 8

The Queens Bench Division, The Chancery Division and the Family Division

Question 9

If the claim is for breach of contract or tort, and is being run in the High Court, which division would it run in?

Answer 9

The Queens Bench Division