Before any civil dispute reaches a courtroom, someone has to decide where to begin it. That choice — County Court or High Court, which division, which procedure — is one of the first practical judgements a solicitor makes when issuing a claim. Get it right and the case runs smoothly; get it wrong and your client can face delay, transfer, and reduced costs recovery even after a win.
This lesson gives you a clear, ordered method for making that decision with confidence.
What this lesson covers:
- The Two Civil Courts and Starting a Claim — the County Court and High Court, what each handles, and the Part 7 and Part 8 routes for issuing a claim.
- Financial Thresholds — the £50,000 and £100,000 figures that steer most claims to the County Court, and what they really mean.
- Non-Financial Factors and Choosing the Court — how complexity, remedies and importance can justify the High Court, and the structured steps to follow.
- Divisions, Specialist Courts and Lists — the King's Bench and Chancery Divisions and the Business and Property Courts.
- Mandatory Forums and Remedies — claims that must go to a particular court, from judicial review to search orders.
- Transfer and Costs Consequences — when cases move up, and the costs sting of starting in the wrong court.