uk law: claim

How do I go about making a legal claim in the UK, and how much will it cost?

There can be many reasons for making a legal claim in the UK. Despite our best efforts to resolve issues amicably, there is sometimes no option but to seek legal advice.

One of the most common claims in the UK is where someone owes you money. If they refuse to pay, you can approach a lawyer to issue a claim through the county court. Solicitors will usually charge per the hour, which can be anything from £150 to in excess of £400.

Claims are also regularly made for issues such as faulty goods, bad workmanship, road traffic accidents, and of course personal injury. In some cases, a solicitor will take your case on a no win no fee basis so you won't be left put of pocket even if you lose.

It's important to issue a claim as soon as a dispute develops to the stage where it cannot be amicably resolved. If you delay issuing proceedings for too long, you may be unable to take action.

However, going to court must be seen as the last resort. Court proceedings can be lengthy, expensive, and successful claims difficult to enforce. There are a number of arbitration and mediation schemes in the UK designed to bring disputing parties together. As long as both parties are sensible, such programs can often help an acceptable compromise to be reached.

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