Question

Task 1. Here are the steps in which a claim goes through the County Court. Fill the gaps. a The claimant _______________ a claim in the County Court. b The claimant will have to pay a _______________. The amount depends on the amount of money that the claimant is claiming. c The court or the claimant’s solicitor _______________ the claim upon the defendant. This means that they send it to the defendant’s address and make sure that the defendant receives it. d The defendant has 14 days from the day he or she receives the claim to _______________ to it. The defendant can admit the claim, which means to agree that the claim is right, and pay the money that the claimant wants, or the defendant can defend the claim. e If the defendant decides to defend the claim, a judge will _______________ the case in the County Court. f The judge will give his or her judgment. The judge will _______________ in favour of the claimant or the defendant. g The parties must follow the terms of the _______________ that the judge makes and they must make sure that they obey any instructions about time limits. h If the order says that the defendant must pay money to the claimant then the claimant can use the services of a _______________ to collect that money if the defendant does not pay.

Answer 1

a) The claimant issues a claim in the County Court.

b) The claimant will have to pay a court fee. The amount depends on the amount of money that the claimant is claiming.

c) The court or the claimant’s solicitor serves the claim upon the defendant. This means that they send it to the defendant’s address and make sure that the defendant receives it.

d) The defendant has 14 days from the day he or she receives the claim to respond to it. The defendant can admit the claim, which means to agree that the claim is right, and pay the money that the claimant wants, or the defendant can defend the claim.

e If the defendant decides to defend the claim, a judge will allocate the case in the County Court.

f) The judge will give his or her judgment. The judge will rule in favour of the claimant or the defendant.

g) The parties must follow the terms of the order that the judge makes, and they must make sure that they obey any instructions about time limits.

h) If the order says that the defendant must pay money to the claimant, then the claimant can use the services of a bailiff to collect that money if the defendant does not pay.