Form

Guidance for miscellaneous payments out of court

Updated 27 November 2024

Check if there’s money you’re entitled to

You must check if there’s unclaimed money you’re entitled to from a civil court in England and Wales.

If you think the Courts Funds Office (CFO) is holding funds and you want to find out how much money is being held, you must contact the CFO and ask them to make a search.

Court Funds Office
Email: enquiries@cfo.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 0200 199
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

You can also write to:

Court Funds Office

Sunderland

SR43 3AB

If you have a reference number from your online search for unclaimed court accounts, you must quote this when you contact the CFO.

If you find that you’re entitled to money held by a civil court, you must complete an application notice: form N244. You must include:

• the grounds of your appeal
• any evidence you have

Evidence

Documents

In your application or witness statement in support, you must include any evidence you have that shows that you’re owed money. This should include any relevant documents, including:

• grant of probate
• letters of administration
• birth certificates
• marriage certificates
• death certificates
• share certificates

You must send photocopies of any documents you want to include as evidence. If you’re submitting share certificates, you must send the original certificate if you have it.

If anyone else has a claim to the money

You must state whether anyone else has a claim to the money, or part of the money, and if you think they have a valid claim.

You must provide their:

• name
• address
• contact details

If you do not have their current contact details, you must state this in your application. You can give the last contact details you have for them.

If you’re entitled to only part of the money in court, you must clearly state what share you’re claiming, and why you’re claiming it.

Bankruptcy order

If a bankruptcy order has been made against you, you must give the name of your trustee in bankruptcy, even if the order has been discharged. You must explain why the money you’re claiming belongs to you and not to your trustee in bankruptcy.

If you’re claiming on behalf of a person who has died, or as a personal representative and not as a beneficiary under the deceased’s will or intestacy, you only need to provide this information about the deceased person.

Sale of land or property

If the sum of money being claimed is from the sale of land or property that was paid to the court, you must provide evidence that shows you:

• had title to that land or property before it was sold
• are the person named on the title of the property, for example a utility bill addressed to you at that property

In your supporting statement you must either:

• state that you’re not aware of any other people that have an interest in the land or property
• give details of any other people that have an interest in the land or property and explain why they do not have an interest in the money held in court

Unclaimed shareholdings or dividends

If the sum of money being claimed is from shares deposited into court from unclaimed shareholdings or dividends, you must provide the relevant share certificates if they are still available.

Shares that were jointly held with a shareholder who has died will normally pass to the surviving shareholder. If you’re making a claim to funds as a surviving shareholder, you must sign a declaration to say that:

• you’re entitled to the shares
• you know of no one else who may be entitled to them

Personal representative of a deceased person or beneficiary of an estate

You must provide evidence of your right to claim if you’re either:

• claiming as the personal representative of a deceased person
• the beneficiary of an estate

You must provide a copy of either the:

• grant of probate
• letters of administration

Complete the evidence of identity and declaration

The evidence of identity and declaration form must be completed and submitted with your application. You must provide:

• evidence of your identity
• proof of your address
• your declaration
• the bank account that the money can be sent to if the application is approved

Submit your application

You must register to use the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) E-Filing service if you’re a:

• solicitor
• trust research or beneficiary tracing firm that locates and recovers unclaimed assets on behalf of beneficiaries

You can find out how to file your documents using the E-Filing service.

If you’re representing yourself in court, you can use the HMCTS E-Filing service but you do not have to.

If you do not complete the application notice correctly, your application may be delayed.

If you’re having difficulty proving your claim or completing the form, you can contact Citizens Advice.

Where to send your application

You must send your application and supporting evidence to:

Business and property courts of England and Wales
HMCTS
Chancery Division, Miscellaneous Payments Team
7 The Rolls Building
Fetter Lane
London
EC4A 1NL

Application fee

You must pay a fee of £59 for each application.

You can pay the fee by:

• postal order
• banker’s draft
• cheque

The fee must be made payable to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. You must send the fee with your application. The fee is non-refundable.

The sum of money you’re entitled to may be less than the application fee.

Existing claims

If you have any questions about an existing claim, you can contact the Miscellaneous Payments Team:

Telephone: 020 7947 7929
Email: chancery.miscellaneouspayments@justice.gov.uk