Guidance

Issue an online money claim as a legal professional

Published 7 March 2025

1. Before you start

Before you can create a case using MyHMCTS, you or your organisation must have completed other steps: 

1. Set up an HMCTS Payment by Account (PBA) to pay the court fees online.  

2. Registered your organisation with MyHMCTS.  

3. Set up your MyHMCTS user account. 

The MyHMCTS registration guidance has further information and instructions. If your organisation has an account already, contact the administrator to arrange for your account creation. 

If you need additional help with MyHMCTS email MyHMCTSsupport@justice.gov.uk. We aim to respond within 5 working days.

You cannot save a draft of the claim before it is submitted, so you should make sure you have all the information you need to issue the claim before you start. If you are claiming interest, you will need your interest calculation and dates.

2. Create a claim

1. Sign in to MyHMCTS using your email address and password.

2. Select ‘Create case’ from the header menu. Use the drop down boxes to select:

• Jurisdiction – Civil

• Case type – Civil

• Event – Create claim – specified 

On the next screen you can download the claim timeline template. Use this to record all the events in your timeline. You can create copies for more events if you need to. You can add events manually in the service if you decide not to use the timeline template.

The next screen explains the eligibility criteria for using the service. For full guidance see practice direction 51R of the civil procedure rules. 

3. Add references for the parties’ representatives if you have them.

Claimant’s details

1. Select what type of claimant is making the claim:

• individual

• company

• organisation

• sole trader

Depending on which you select, you will be asked further questions. If the claimant is an individual, you must provide their name, address and date of birth. You can also provide their email address if you know it. 

2. You will be asked if you want to add another claimant. If you select ‘Yes’, you will then need to repeat the previous step by adding the additional claimant’s details. Once you have added all claimants, select ‘No’ and ‘Continue’.

 

3. If you want to use the email address you signed in with, select ‘Yes’. If you want to use an alternative, select ‘No’ and enter the email address.

This is where updates about your claim will be sent. You can update this email address at any time later.

4. To find your organisation, start entering its name. Select your organisation from the results – as only one address can be registered with MyHMCTS, this may be a head office rather than the branch where you are based. Then select ‘Continue’.

5. Select ‘Yes’ if you want to enter an alternative address for postal correspondence. This may be because you are based at a different location to the registered address. If the registered address is where correspondence should be sent, select ‘No’. Then select ‘Continue’.

Defendant’s details

The defendant’s address must be in England or Wales – if not, you should use the Money Claim Online service or make the claim on paper. Use the postcode look-up to find the address.

1. Select what type of defendant the claim is against:

• individual
• company
• organisation
• sole trader

Depending on which you select, you will be asked further questions.  

2. If the defendant does not have a legal representative, select ‘No’ and ‘Continue’ to the details of the claim section. If the defendant does have a legal representative, select ‘Yes’ and ‘Continue’.

If you are issuing a claim against more than one unrepresented defendant, the claim will proceed offline once it is issued. You must print out the claim form, serve it on the defendant’s legal representative and file a certificate of service at the court by email to contactocmc@justice.gov.uk.

3. Select if the defendant’s legal representative is registered on MyHMCTS or not. If you know they are, or you’re not sure, select ‘Yes’ and search for the organisation by entering its name. Select the organisation from the search results and then ‘Continue’.

4. If you know they are not registered or you cannot find them using the search, select ‘No’ and ‘Continue’. You will need to add the address manually and select ‘Continue’.

5. Add the defendant’s legal representative’s email address if you have it and have not already entered it. Then select ‘Continue’.

If the defendant’s legal representative is not registered with MyHMCTS, or you do not have their email address, the claim will proceed offline once it is issued. You will need to print out the claim form, serve it on the defendant’s legal representative and file a certificate of service at the court by email to contactocmc@justice.gov.uk.

6. If the defendant’s legal representative is registered with MyHMCTS but you want to change where correspondence is sent, select ‘Yes’. This may be because they are based at a different location to the registered address. If the registered address is where correspondence should be sent, select ‘No’. Then select ‘Continue’.

7. You will be asked if you want to add another defendant. If you select ‘Yes’, you will then need to repeat the previous steps by adding the additional defendant’s details. Once you have added all defendants, select ‘No’ and ‘Continue’.

Details of the claim

1. If you selected that the defendant is a company, and the claim is about a flight, select ‘Yes’ and enter the flight details. Or select ‘No’ if it is not about a flight. Then select ‘Continue’.

2. Provide a brief summary of the reason for making the claim and the remedy that you are seeking. For example, you may be seeking payment of an unpaid invoice. Upload any evidence, such as a copy of an invoice. Then select ‘Continue’.

Any documents you upload must be unencrypted or the claim will not be issued.

3. Select if you want to upload a completed timeline template or add the timeline of events manually and ‘Continue’.

4. If you are entering an event manually, add the date and a summary of what happened. Select ‘Add new’ to add more dates. When you have added all events, select ‘Continue’.

5. To provide evidence, choose the type of evidence and then describe it in more detail. Select ‘Add new’ to provide more evidence. When you have added all your evidence, select ‘Continue’.

Claim amount and interest

1. Add what you are claiming for and the amount of the claim. If your whole claim includes more than one item, add each item separately by selecting ‘Add new’. For example, there may be more than one invoice you are claiming for. Do not include any interest here as you will add that later. Once you have added all parts of the claim, select ‘Continue’.

2. The next screen will list each part of the claim, with their amounts, and the total claim amount. Select ‘Continue’.

3. If you want to claim interest, select ‘Yes’ and ‘Continue’. If you are not claiming interest, select ‘No’ and ‘Continue’ to skip the interest questions.

Interest can be at a fixed rate, or varying rates and you can select when the interest is payable from. The interest that is owed is calculated by the system and added to the total value of the claim. The court will decide if the interest should be paid.

4. Select that you want to claim the same rate of interest for the whole time period you’re claiming for. Then select ‘Continue’.

Do not select to break it down by time or item – if you need to do that, you should apply on paper.

5. If you selected the same rate of interest for the whole time period, you can claim 8% per year, unless you know a different rate applies. If a different rate, enter what that rate is and why you are entitled to claim it. When complete, select ‘Continue’.

6. Select whether you are claiming interest from the date you submit the claim or another specific date. The select ‘Continue’.

7. If you are claiming from another specific date, enter the date and explain why. Then select ‘Continue’.

8. Select if you are claiming the interest until the date you submit the claim, or the claim is settled or has received a judgment. Then select ‘Continue’.

9. The next screen will list the claim amount, the interest and the total amount. Select ‘Continue’.

10. You will the see the fee that you will need to pay. Select ‘Continue’.

 

11. if you want to claim for fixed commencement costs, select ‘Yes’, enter how much and then select ‘Continue’. If not, select ‘No’ and ‘Continue’.

12. Read the statement of truth and add your name and role. Then select ‘Continue’.

13. Check your answers. If you select ‘Change’, it will take you back to the relevant section of the claim. You can make as many changes as you need to. When you are ready, select ‘Submit’.

Once you have submitted the claim, you cannot change the details of it – so it is important to make sure you have completed it correctly here.

You will receive an email with the claim number.

3. Pay the court fee

After you have submitted the claim, you will be invited to pay the claim fee. You can pay by credit or debit card, or by PBA. 

You can pay now or you can access the claim later to pay. However, the claim will not be issued until you have paid.

1. To pay immediately, follow the link to ‘Pay your claim fee’. 

To pay later, sign in and find the case using the claim number you were sent.

2. Open the ‘Service Request’ tab and select ‘Pay now’.

3. Select to pay by PBA, or by credit or debit card. If paying by PBA, select the correct PBA number and provide a unique reference. Then select ‘Confirm payment’.

4. If paying by credit or debit card, select ‘Continue’. You will be taken to a screen where you can enter your card details and confirm payment.

5. Once you have confirmed payment by either PBA or card, you will see a ‘Payment successful’ screen.

Once you have paid the fee, the claim will be issued and the claim form will be generated. You can find the claim form in the ‘Documents’ tab. 

If your claim meets the criteria to be issued, the notice will be automatically posted to the defendant. If you have provided an email address for the defendant, they will also receive the notice by email.

If you are issuing a claim against 2 unrepresented defendants, the claim will be issued but it will be your responsibility to serve the claim and to confirm service.

4. Get help and support

Managing cases and case access in MyHMCTS

Contact the courts and tribunals service centre (CTSC) if you need support with:

• a particular case
• managing a case on MyHMCTS
• a claim that has moved offline but is not yet at a local court

Email: contactocmc@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 7050
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

If you see an error message or have a technical issue when managing a case, such as the claim not being fully issued, email ocmclr@justice.gov.uk.

Find guidance for case administration tasks in MyHMCTS

Accessing your MyHMCTS account

If you are having trouble accessing MyHMCTS, make sure you are using the correct link. To manage a case you must use https://manage-case.platform.hmcts.net. 

You should also make sure:

• your internet browser is up to date – we recommend you use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (you cannot use Internet Explorer or Apple Safari)
• you have cleared your cookies and your cache
• you check your firewall and security settings

We recommend that you bookmark or favourite MyHMCTS in your internet browser. You should only create the bookmark or favourite once you have signed in and are on the homepage. Do not create it from the sign in or verification pages, or while you have a case or organisation open.

If you are still having trouble accessing MyHMCTS, try using a different device to sign in.

If you have an IT support team, they will be able to help with any device, browser and security issues.

If you have an issue with your MyHMCTS account, you should contact an account administrator in your organisation.

If you need additional support with your MyHMCTS account, email MyHMCTSsupport@justice.gov.uk. We aim to respond within 5 working days.