Skip to main content

County Courts: Judgments

Volume 495: debated on Monday 6 July 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the civil procedure rules do not require a claimant applying for a county court judgment to produce evidence of admission of the defendant. (284250)

The civil procedure rules require a defendant who wishes to admit a claim to send their admission direct to the claimant to allow them to make an offer of payment, or pay the claim in full, without unnecessarily involving the court.

A claimant may request a judgment based on an admission by filing a prescribed form. By signing the form, the claimant certifies that the defendant admits that all the money is owed.

Rule 32.14 of the civil procedure rules provides that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against a person if he makes, or causes to be made, a false statement. Where a party does make a false statement, the courts, when such actions are brought to their attention, treat them very seriously and judges may make orders as they see fit. However, such instances are very rare.