UK Court Fees Calculator
Most court applications in England and Wales carry a fee set by the Ministry of Justice. This calculator works out the fee for a civil, family, probate or Court of Protection matter, checks whether you might qualify for Help with Fees, and works out statutory interest on a money claim. The fees shown were last updated in November 2025.
How it works
Tell the calculator what you are doing — issuing a money claim, a family or probate application, a Court of Protection matter, or working out interest owed on a debt. It returns the current court fee, which is payable to the court and separate from any solicitor’s costs.
It also checks Help with Fees, the scheme that can reduce or remove the fee for individuals on a low income or with limited savings — companies and other organisations cannot use it. And for money claims it can work out the statutory interest you may be entitled to add.
The fees are statutory amounts set by the Ministry of Justice and were last updated in November 2025; they change from time to time, so treat the figure as current guidance rather than a permanent quote. The calculator collects no personal details and is not legal advice — if you would like help with your matter, we can explain what is involved.
Questions about UK Court Fees Calculator
Yes. Court fees you have properly incurred are recoverable as a disbursement and are generally allowed in full on assessment. This includes small claims, where most legal costs are not recoverable but the court fee usually is.
No. Court fees are statutory charges set by Parliament and fall outside the scope of VAT. Your solicitor's fees attract VAT, but the court fee passed through to you does not.
No. The government confirmed in October 2025 that Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal fees will not be reintroduced. Bringing a claim remains free.
No — Help with Fees is only available to individuals, including sole traders. Companies, partnerships, LLPs, trusts and charities pay the full fee. This is a common misunderstanding.
For hearing fees in civil claims, generally no — since 6 March 2017 hearing fees are not refunded if a case settles. Separately, you can apply for a retrospective Help with Fees refund within three months of paying, if you were eligible at the time.
No — there is no fee to file a defence. If you bring a counterclaim you pay a fee at the same rate as a fresh money claim, but a counterclaim you are required to make as part of your defence is fee-free.
You can pay by debit or credit card through the court's online service, by phone to the court, by cheque made payable to 'HM Courts and Tribunals Service' sent with the application, or in person at a court counter during its limited opening hours. For online applications the fee is taken at the point of submission.
The standard service level is five working days, and you should apply at the same time as your court application. The online service generates a reference number (HWF-XXX-XXX) that you enter on your application or court form. If the court asks for evidence — payslips, bank statements or benefit letters — you have 28 days to provide it.
It includes savings, ISAs, stocks and shares, cryptocurrency, lump sums, equity in second properties and money held abroad. It excludes your main home, household contents, pension pots, a vehicle needed for work and the value of a self-employed business. Most compensation payments are also excluded, including criminal injuries, armed forces, Windrush, medical negligence and personal injury settlements.
Apply for Help with Fees, using the online service or paper form EX160. For Court of Protection cases use form COP44A instead, as the online service does not cover the Court of Protection. There is also a discretionary power to remit a fee in cases of exceptional hardship that fall outside the standard tests.
If the court gives you 36 days' notice or more of the trial date, the hearing fee is due at least 28 days before trial. If you get less than 36 days' notice, it is due within 7 days of the notice. Late payment leads to automatic strike-out of your case.
It depends on the type of case. Most money claims now go through the online Money Claim service, divorce is online only, Children Act and financial remedy applications go to your local Family Court, and Court of Protection applications all go to the Central Court of Protection in London.
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