Small Claims Court & MCOL Fees Guide 2026 | UK Claims £10k | NationRules
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HMCTS Small Claims 2026Money Claim Online (MCOL)Up to £10,000 Limit

Small Claims Court & MCOL Fees Guide

Calculate Small Claims Court issue fees & hearing fees and understand HMCTS Money Claim Online (MCOL) procedures for disputes up to £10,000.

MCOL Court Fee Estimator

Compute HMCTS issue fee and hearing fee based on claim amount

£
Small Claims track limit: £10,000 max

HMCTS Court Fees Breakdown:

MCOL Issue Fee
£115
Paid at Filing
Hearing Fee
£181
If Case Heard
Total Max Court Fee
£296
Reimbursed if Win

Scaled Court Fees Table (2025/2026)

HMCTS court fees depend on the money amount claimed via Money Claim Online (MCOL).

Claim Amount BandMCOL Online Issue FeeHearing Fee
Up to £300£35£27
£300.01 to £500£50£59
£500.01 to £1,000£70£85
£1,000.01 to £1,500£80£123
£1,500.01 to £3,000£115£181
£3,000.01 to £5,000£205£355
£5,000.01 to £10,000£455£355

Key Small Claims Procedural Rules

Letter Before Claim

Must send a formal Letter Before Action giving 14 to 30 days notice before starting court proceedings.

14-Day Response Window

Defendants have 14 days to respond, after which you can request a County Court Judgment (CCJ) by default.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Small Claims track handles money disputes up to £10,000 in England and Wales (£5,000 for personal injury or housing repair claims).

Money Claim Online (MCOL) is HM Courts & Tribunals Service's digital portal for issuing small claims up to £10,000 electronically with lower court issue fees.

Yes. If the court rules in your favor, the judge will order the defendant to reimburse your issue fee, hearing fee, and fixed legal costs.

The defendant has 14 days from receiving the claim form to pay, admit, or defend the claim. They can request a 14-day extension (28 days total) by submitting an Acknowledgment of Service.

If the defendant fails to respond within 14 days, you can request a County Court Judgment (CCJ) by Default. This damages their credit rating for 6 years and allows bailiff enforcement.