What is a claim form?

• A. The form used to start court proceedings in England & Wales, typically with a brief summary.
• B. A document detailing the defendant's response to a claim.
• C. A seal affixed to order a trial by jury.
• D. A notification of appeal in minor cases.

Answer: (A)

A claim form is the document that starts civil court proceedings in England & Wales. It’s the form the claimant lodges with the court to commence the action and it usually includes a short summary of the claim, the parties involved, and the remedy sought (often the amount of money claimed). Once issued, the claim form must be served on the defendant, who then has a set period to respond, typically by filing a defence. In practice, the claim form is often accompanied by or followed by the particulars of claim, which provides the full factual background in more detail. The other options describe different documents: a document detailing the defendant’s response is the defence; a seal affixed to order a trial by jury isn’t a standard civil procedure document in England & Wales; and a notification of appeal is used to start an appeal, not to commence the original proceedings.