How long do I have to file a Defence in the county court?

You must file your Defence within 14 days of receiving the Particulars of Claim. However, if you have already filed an Acknowledgement of Service, you have 28 days from that point to file your Defence. Missing this deadline without an Acknowledgement of Service can lead to a default judgment against you.

Can I just write 'I deny everything' in my Defence?

No, you must not simply write 'I deny everything.' The Civil Procedure Rules require you to state which allegations are admitted, denied, or not admitted. Crucially, you must provide specific reasons for each denial. Failing to give grounds for your denials is a common procedural error that can weaken your position.

How should I structure my response to the claimant's allegations?

You should respond to each numbered paragraph in the Particulars of Claim in turn. For each paragraph, clearly state whether you admit, deny, or do not admit the allegation. If you deny it, you must explain why. This structured approach ensures the court understands exactly which parts of the claim you are contesting.

Do I need to include my own facts in the Defence?

The Defence is your opportunity to introduce your own facts. You should include a section for your 'Positive Case' where you set out additional facts that support your defence. For example, if you returned goods, state the date and circumstances. Omitting your positive case means you may not be able to rely on those facts later.

Can I use this Defence template for employment or criminal cases?

No, this template is specifically for civil county court proceedings. You must not use it for employment tribunal claims, immigration matters, or criminal proceedings, as these have entirely different procedural rules. Additionally, if you intend to admit the claim in full, you should use Form N9A instead of filing a Defence.

What administrative details are required on the Defence document?

Yes, your Defence must be signed and dated. It must also include a 'Statement of Truth' confirming you believe the facts are true. Making a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth can lead to proceedings for contempt of court.

← All Templates

Legal Proceedings

Civil Litigation

Updated 2026-05-16

Skeleton Defence Document

A structured skeleton defence for use in county court proceedings, setting out the defendant's position paragraph by paragraph in response to a Particulars of Claim.

This template was not drafted by a solicitor.

It is an editorial reference based on the official sources we cite. You are responsible for any document you send. For high-stakes matters (court proceedings, large sums, deportation, criminal allegations, child welfare), have a regulated solicitor review or draft your document.

When to use this template

Use this template when you have received a county court claim (Form N1 or Money Claim Online) and need to file a Defence. You must file your Defence within 14 days of service of the Particulars of Claim (or 28 days if you have filed an Acknowledgement of Service). This skeleton helps you structure a clear, paragraph-by-paragraph response.

When NOT to use this template

Do not use this template for defending employment tribunal claims, immigration matters, or criminal proceedings — they have entirely different procedural rules. Do not file a Defence if you intend to admit the claim in full; use Form N9A instead. If the claim is for a debt you dispute, consider also whether to make a counterclaim.

Legal Basis

Civil Procedure Rules Part 15 (Defence and Reply); CPR Practice Direction 15; CPR Part 16.5 (contents of defence — defendant must state which allegations are admitted, denied, or not admitted, and give reasons for denial). Failure to file a Defence may result in a default judgment under CPR Part 12.

Before you send

Simply writing 'I deny everything' without giving grounds — CPR r.16.5(2) requires a reason for each denial
Missing the 14-day deadline without filing an Acknowledgement of Service first (which gives 28 days total)
Failing to set out any positive case you wish to rely on — the Defence is your opportunity to introduce your own facts

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Simply writing 'I deny everything' without giving grounds — CPR r.16.5(2) requires a reason for each denial
✗Missing the 14-day deadline without filing an Acknowledgement of Service first (which gives 28 days total)
✗Failing to set out any positive case you wish to rely on — the Defence is your opportunity to introduce your own facts
✗Not responding to each numbered paragraph in the Particulars of Claim in turn
✗Forgetting to sign and date the Defence and include a statement of truth

Build Your Letter

Fill in your details

Complete the fields below. Required fields are marked with *.

Court name*

Claim number*

Claimant's full name*

Defendant's full name (you)*

Date of Particulars of Claim*

Response to paragraph 1 of Particulars of Claim*

Response to paragraph 2*

Response to paragraph 3*

Response to amount claimed*

Date signed*

Your address for service*

Optional fields

Response to paragraph 4

Response to paragraph 5

Your own positive case / facts you rely upon

Letter preview

IN THE COUNTY COURT AT [COURT NAME]

Claim Number: [CLAIM NUMBER]

**BETWEEN:**

[CLAIMANT'S FULL NAME]
— Claimant

and

[DEFENDANT'S FULL NAME (YOU)]
— Defendant

---

**DEFENCE**

The Defendant, [DEFENDANT'S FULL NAME (YOU)], sets out his/her/their Defence to the Particulars of Claim dated [DATE OF PARTICULARS OF CLAIM] as follows.

**Paragraph 1 — Admission / Denial**

[RESPONSE TO PARAGRAPH 1 OF PARTICULARS OF CLAIM]

**Paragraph 2 — Admission / Denial**

[RESPONSE TO PARAGRAPH 2]

**Paragraph 3 — Admission / Denial**

[RESPONSE TO PARAGRAPH 3]

**Paragraph 4 — Admission / Denial**

[RESPONSE TO PARAGRAPH 4]

**Paragraph 5 — Admission / Denial**

[RESPONSE TO PARAGRAPH 5]

**The Defendant's Positive Case**

[YOUR OWN POSITIVE CASE / FACTS YOU RELY UPON]

**Quantum**

[RESPONSE TO AMOUNT CLAIMED]

**Relief**

The Defendant asks the Court to dismiss the claim and, if appropriate, to award the Defendant his/her/their costs.

---

**STATEMENT OF TRUTH**

I believe that the facts stated in this Defence are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.

Signed: ___________________________

Full name: [DEFENDANT'S FULL NAME (YOU)]

Date: [DATE SIGNED]

Address for service: [YOUR ADDRESS FOR SERVICE]

Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.

Related Guides

Small Claims Court

Related Rights

Civil Court Rights

Official Resources

Gov.uk — Respond to a Court Claim for Money →CPR Part 15 — Defence and Reply →

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a Defence in the county court?: You must file your Defence within 14 days of receiving the Particulars of Claim. However, if you have already filed an Acknowledgement of Service, you have 28 days from that point to file your Defence. Missing this deadline without an Acknowledgement of Service can lead to a default judgment against you.
Can I just write 'I deny everything' in my Defence?: No, you must not simply write 'I deny everything.' The Civil Procedure Rules require you to state which allegations are admitted, denied, or not admitted. Crucially, you must provide specific reasons for each denial. Failing to give grounds for your denials is a common procedural error that can weaken your position.
How should I structure my response to the claimant's allegations?: You should respond to each numbered paragraph in the Particulars of Claim in turn. For each paragraph, clearly state whether you admit, deny, or do not admit the allegation. If you deny it, you must explain why. This structured approach ensures the court understands exactly which parts of the claim you are contesting.
Do I need to include my own facts in the Defence?: The Defence is your opportunity to introduce your own facts. You should include a section for your 'Positive Case' where you set out additional facts that support your defence. For example, if you returned goods, state the date and circumstances. Omitting your positive case means you may not be able to rely on those facts later.
Can I use this Defence template for employment or criminal cases?: No, this template is specifically for civil county court proceedings. You must not use it for employment tribunal claims, immigration matters, or criminal proceedings, as these have entirely different procedural rules. Additionally, if you intend to admit the claim in full, you should use Form N9A instead of filing a Defence.
What administrative details are required on the Defence document?: Yes, your Defence must be signed and dated. It must also include a 'Statement of Truth' confirming you believe the facts are true. Making a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth can lead to proceedings for contempt of court.