Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the County Court Rules 1981 so as to–

(a)

permit a plaintiff to serve a summons on a company registered in England and Wales at a place of business other than its registered office (rule 3);

(b)

enable a registrar, in a default action, to dispose of requests for time to pay without a hearing (rule 4);

(c)

enable a plaintiff, on acceptance of a payment into court which is less than the amount claimed, to lodge for taxation a bill of costs incurred by him up to the time of giving notice of acceptance (rule 5);

(d)

require a party filing a copy of a written offer with the court to do so in a sealed envelope (rule 5);

(e)

enable applications for a hearing date or further adjournment of an action or matter adjourned generally for 12 months to be determined without a hearing (rule 6);

(f)

extend the rule permitting the amendment of pleadings without an order (rule 7);

(g)

allow the proper officer, upon receipt of a case transferred from the High Court, to seek directions from the registrar as to its further treatment (rule 8);

(h)

introduce a timetable for the issue and service of witness summonses and a leave requirement for issue of a witness summons in respect of a hearing for directions (rule 9);

(i)

enable unopposed applications for variation of payments ordered under a judgment to be determined without a hearing (rule 10);

(j)

require the applicant to provide the materials necessary for service of summary proceedings for recovery of open land (rule 11);

(k)

enable unopposed applications to suspend a warrant of execution to be determined without a hearing (rule 12);

(l)

require service of copies of a charging order nisi to be effected by the judgment creditor (rule 14);

(m)

enable a litigant in person to claim as costs the cost of receiving legal advice (rule 15);

(n)

to effect amendments of a minor and consequential nature (rules 2, 13 and 16).