{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998/rule-38.2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998/rule-38.2.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1998/3132",
  "legislation_title": "The Civil Procedure Rules 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998",
  "path": "rule/38.2",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "38.2",
  "heading": "Right to discontinue claim",
  "text": "(1) At any time, a claimant may discontinue all or part of a claim against one or more defendants.\n(2) However—\n(a) a claimant must obtain the permission of the court if they wish to discontinue all or part of a claim in relation to which—\n(i) the court has granted an interim injunction(GL); or\n(ii) any party has given an undertaking to the court;\n(b) where the claimant has received an interim payment in relation to a claim (whether voluntarily or pursuant to an order under Part 25), he may discontinue that claim only if—\n(i) the defendant who made the interim payment consents in writing; or\n(ii) the court gives permission;\n(c) where there is more than one claimant, a claimant may not discontinue unless—\n(i) every other claimant consents in writing; or\n(ii) the court gives permission.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in rule 38.2(1) substituted (6.4.2023) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/105), rules 1(1), 21(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in rule 38.2(1) substituted (1.10.2023 immediately after S.I. 2023/572 comes into force) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/788), rules 1(1), 20(1)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in rule 38.2(2)(a) substituted (1.10.2023 immediately after S.I. 2023/572 comes into force) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/788), rules 1(1), 20(1)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Rule 38.2(3) omitted (6.4.2023) by virtue of The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/105), rules 1(1), 21(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Rule 38.2 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/3132/rule/38.2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:12:59.276840+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}