High Court of Justice

Overview

The High Court of Justice sits in the Royal Courts of Justice in London and at District Registries around England and Wales. It has three Divisions: the King's Bench Division (general civil claims, judicial review, Administrative Court), the Chancery Division (trusts, probate, business, intellectual property, insolvency), and the Family Division. The High Court hears claims worth £100,000 or more (with some exceptions) and most claims involving complex law or significant public interest, as well as appeals from the County Court and certain tribunals.

What it handles

• Claims worth £100,000+ (or £50,000+ for personal injury) — multi-track
• Judicial review of public bodies (via the Administrative Court within KBD)
• Chancery matters: trusts, probate disputes, IP, partnership, insolvency
• Family matters of complexity or international dimension (Family Division)
• Appeals from the County Court on points of law
• Specialist lists: Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court, Admiralty Court

What it does not handle

• Small claims and lower-value civil work (handled by the County Court)
• Criminal trials of indictable offences (handled by the Crown Court)
• Routine family work — most divorces start in the Family Court, not the Family Division

Forms

Fees

• Issue fee — money claim £100k+: 5% of claim value (capped £10,000)
• Hearing fee — multi-track: £1,175
• Judicial review — permission: £169

Process

1. Step 1: Check time limits

   Before starting a claim you should consider settling out of court if possible; there are strict time limits for starting a case, for example 6 years for a contract or negligence claim and 1 year for a defamation or human rights claim.

2. Step 2: Start the claim and pay the fee

   You start a case by filling in a Part 7 or Part 8 claim form (Part 7 for most claims); the court fee is 5% of the amount claimed for claims between £10,000 and £200,000, or a flat £10,000 for claims above £200,000.

3. Step 3: Serve the claim on the defendant

   Once the court has stamped the claim form, you give or send a copy to the defendant along with an acknowledgment of service form, the relevant admission/defence forms, and the particulars of claim.

4. Step 4: Defendant responds

   The defendant has 14 days to acknowledge the claim (which can extend their time to respond), and 28 days to respond in full once given both the claim form and the particulars of claim.

5. Step 5: Case management

   If the claim is defended, the court asks for more information on how the case should be managed, and the parties usually attend a case management conference to agree a trial date and a timetable for evidence.

6. Step 6: Trial and judgment

   The case is usually heard by a High Court Judge in the Royal Courts of Justice (or a Circuit Judge outside London); both sides make statements and question witnesses, and the court later sends a draft judgment before the judge formally issues it.

Appeals

Court of Appeal (Civil Division).

Representation

Solicitor and counsel standard; many High Court litigants instruct counsel directly via direct access where rules permit.

Official sources