HELP WITH COURT FEES: NEW FORMS AND NEW ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: WHERE TO FIND THE NEW GUIDANCE AND FORMS

November 28, 2023 · by · in Civil Procedure, Court fees

A reminder that the financial eligibility criteria for help with court fees was changed from the 27th November 2023. There are also new court forms designed to make the process (which can be somewhat tortuous) simpler.

Close-up of British bank notes

FROM THE GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE

The Press release can be found here.

“The changes to income thresholds will vary depending on different families and their circumstances, including the age of any children. For example:
  • For a couple with 2 children under 14, the monthly income threshold would increase from £1,875 per month to £2,980
  • For a single person with no children the threshold would increase from £1,170 per month to £1,420
Additional financial support will be provided for parents with a child aged 14 or over, considering the greater cost associated with looking after older children.
The Government will also change how the scheme is targeted to make sure the most financially vulnerable are better supported by:
  • Providing more flexibility for individuals with money in savings and investments by increasing the minimum capital threshold for the scheme.  This will allow applicants to have more capital before they become ineligible for the scheme.
  • Making it easier for the self-employed and those who work variable shift patterns to qualify by better recognising that income can fluctuate month- on-month.
  • Ensuring those on higher incomes pay more of their court and tribunal fees, by revising partial fee discounts so the more an individual earns, the more they pay towards their fees.
  • Raising the scheme’s age cap from 61 to the state pension age of 66.”

WHERE TO FIND THE NEW FORMS AND GUIDANCE

They are available on the website here. 

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