Enhanced court fees: the government response to part 2 of the consultation on reform of court fees

The government has decided to increase the fee to issue proceedings for the recovery of money to 5% of the value of the claim for all claims over £10,000. The fees for claims of less than £10,000, which represent over 90% of all money claims, are unaffected by these proposals and will remain at their current levels. The maximum fee to issue proceedings will be £10,000.

Discounts of 10% will apply to these fees where the claim is initiated electronically using the Secure Data Transfer facility or Money Claims Online.

Having listened to the concerns of those who responded to the consultation proposals, the government has decided not to implement the proposed increase to the fee for a divorce, or either of the options for charging higher fees for commercial proceedings.

This has not, however, changed the financial imperative to increase income to the courts from fees. This government response therefore also seeks views on proposals for raising fee income from possession claims and general applications in civil proceedings.