Guides / Northern Ireland

Small claims and county court bundle checklist (Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland terms: plaintiff, Civil Bill, discovery and industrial tribunals. Here is a practical way to organise your papers so you, the other side and the judge can find everything quickly.

The quick version

Keep every document in one binder, split into the sections below.
Write down every date and deadline the moment you get it.
Give each piece of evidence a reference and use it everywhere.
Number the pages and keep an up-to-date index at the front.

Get the ready-made Northern Ireland binder on Etsy, or build a personalised sample online.

Dates and deadlines to track

Claim or Civil Bill issued
Response or notice to defend due
Discovery deadline
Witness statement deadline
Trial bundle lodged
Hearing date

Always use the exact dates in your court or tribunal letters and orders. Count working days with our free working days calculator.

How to section your binder

Section A: Case summary & issues

A brief overview of the case and the key issues in dispute.

What to file: Case reference numbers; Names of parties; Short summary of what the case is about; List of the main issues the court or tribunal is being asked to decide.

Section B: Claim, civil bill & defence

Formal documents setting out each party's case.

What to file: Small claims application and any response; Civil Bill and Notice of Intention to Defend; Defence and any reply; Tribunal claim form (ET1(NI)) and response.

Section C: Chronology

A timeline of key events relevant to the dispute.

What to file: Chronology table (date, event, party, evidence reference); Any updated versions of the chronology.

Section D: Court orders & directions

Official instructions issued by the court or tribunal.

What to file: Orders and directions; Review and listing notices; Certificate of Readiness; Hearing notices.

Section E: Evidence

Documents relied upon to support factual assertions.

What to file: Emails, letters, messages; Contracts, invoices, receipts; Screenshots or photographs; Other relevant documents.

Section F: Witness statements

Written statements setting out evidence from witnesses.

What to file: Your own witness statement; Witness statements from others; Signed and dated final versions.

Section G: Correspondence

Communications relating to the dispute.

What to file: Letters and emails exchanged between parties; Correspondence with the court or tribunal.

Section H: Costs, fees & remedies

Financial information relevant to the case.

What to file: Court or tribunal fees paid; Costs schedules (if applicable); Schedule of loss or remedy calculations.

Section I: Hearing notes

Preparation and notes for hearings or mediation.

What to file: Key points to raise; Questions for witnesses; Notes taken during hearings.

What this binder is for

Case Ready is a document organisation and preparation tool that helps you present your case materials clearly. This edition is designed with reference to court and tribunal procedure in Northern Ireland.

Organise documents logically
Keep materials in order
Prepare for hearings and deadlines

What this binder is not

Case Ready:

Does not provide legal advice
Does not tell you what arguments to make
Does not guarantee any outcome

If you need legal advice, speak to a solicitor or an advice agency.

Northern Ireland terms used in this binder

Claimant and respondent: the parties in a small claim.
Plaintiff and defendant: the parties in a county court Civil Bill action.
Civil Bill: the document that starts a county court claim.
Notice of Intention to Defend: how a defendant says they will defend a Civil Bill.
Discovery: the exchange of relevant documents between the parties.
Industrial Tribunal: the tribunal for most employment claims. Early conciliation is through the Labour Relations Agency (LRA).

Key points in published guidance

Small claims are generally for claims of up to £5,000. Some types, such as personal injury and road traffic accidents, are excluded.
County court: the plaintiff lodges an agreed, paginated trial bundle, including the defendant's documents, at least 5 working days before the hearing. Trial bundles are accepted in hard copy only.
The dates in your own orders and directions always take priority.

Pagination & referencing

Many courts and tribunals expect documents to be paginated, indexed and clearly referenced. Where possible:

Number pages sequentially
Label documents consistently
Refer to evidence using clear references (for example "E1", "E2")

Chronology & evidence

Chronologies and evidence logs are commonly used to assist judges, tribunal panels and mediators. They help decision-makers understand:

What happened
When it happened
Where supporting documents can be found

Hearings & practicalities

On the day of a hearing:

Bring the required copies of documents
Keep this binder accessible
Use it to locate documents quickly

Court staff and judges expect parties to be organised and respectful of procedure.

Who this is for

Case Ready Northern Ireland is suitable for organising papers in small claims, county court Civil Bill actions, industrial tribunals and mediation. It is not designed for complex High Court litigation without legal representation.

Before your hearing

Documents are filed in the right sections
Pages are numbered in sequence
Evidence is labelled and easy to reference
The chronology is clear and up to date
Court orders and deadlines are recorded
Documents are in date order unless directed otherwise
Confidential material is kept separate
Copies are ready for the hearing
The binder is easy to navigate quickly

Save time with Case Ready

Case Ready is a printable, fillable case binder for Northern Ireland: front sheet, dividers, key dates sheet, evidence index and more, with your case details on every page. Type into it on screen or print it at home.

See Case Ready on Etsy | Try the online builder

This binder is a general organisational aid. Procedure varies by court, tribunal and case type. You are responsible for following the rules, orders and directions that apply in your case. Nothing in this binder is legal advice.