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All Legal Journeys
Civil Litigation
England & Wales
5 stages
12–24 months
Reviewed 2026-05-22
Defamation claim journey
Libel or slander claim under the Defamation Act 2013 — pre-action protocol, statement of case, and trial.
Who Uses This Journey
Claimants whose reputation has been damaged by a publication causing or likely to cause serious harm (s.1 Defamation Act 2013).
Stage-by-Stage Timeline
1
1
Pre-action protocol letter
Defamation PAP requires specific content — identify the publication, words, defamatory meaning, serious harm.
Deadline: 1 year from publication (s.4A Limitation Act 1980)
2
2
Issue claim
Tried in the King's Bench Division of the High Court (Media and Communications List).
3
3
Defences
Truth, honest opinion, public interest, qualified privilege, absolute privilege.
4
4
Meaning hearing
Preliminary issue often determined first — what do the words mean?
5
5
Trial
Trial by judge alone (juries abolished for defamation by Defamation Act 2013).
Possible Outcomes
- Damages (capped at ~£300,000)
- Injunction
- Statement in open court
- Costs