Upcoming Court Fee Increases – What You Need to Know
27th March, 2025
With court fees set to rise in April 2025, creditors will face new challenges in the debt recovery process - impacting both the cost and strategy behind pursuing outstanding debts. It is essential to understand how these changes will affect your recovery efforts and how to adapt debt recovery processes moving forward.
Why Are Court Fees Increasing?
It was announced on 26 February 2025 that the Ministry of Justice plans to increase 171 court and tribunal fees to allow for additional funding for the operation of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. The fee increase also accounts for backdated inflation from March 2022 which has not been reflected in previous rates, and so a sharper increase is expected to cover this.
A selection of the increased rates that are expected to impact Creditors most are as follows:
| General applications | £119.00 increasing to £123.00 |
| Charging Order Applications | £131.00 increasing to £135.00 |
| Multi-track Hearings | £1,175.00 increasing to £1,334.00 |
| Fast Track Hearings | £545.00 increasing to £619.00 |
| Writ of Control | £78.00 increasing to £80.00 |
| Warrant of Control | £91.00 increasing to £94.00 |
| Bankruptcy Petitions | £332.00 increasing to £343.00 |
What does this mean for you?
These fee increases require careful consideration for those pursuing judgments, filing petitions, or engaging in enforcement actions.
- General Applications and Charging Orders: Although the increase is modest, it still needs to be factored into decision-making. For less critical applications, reconsidering whether to proceed could be prudent. Similarly, the small rise in charging order fees should be weighed against the debt value being pursued to ensure it remains a cost-effective option.
- Writs and Warrants of Control: The increases in these enforcement fees are minimal, but those relying on these methods to recover debts should still factor in the added costs. As enforcement options evolve, exploring alternative recovery methods may become more important.
- Multi-track and Fast Track Hearings: The significant rise in fees for multi-track and fast track hearings could dissuade creditors from pursuing complex matters in court. Before proceeding, it will be vital to assess whether the potential outcome justifies the increased costs. If there are concerns about the cost-benefit balance, Ward Hadaway’s Debt Recovery Team is best place to find the most efficient approach to recover debt amounts.
- Bankruptcy Petitions: The increase in bankruptcy petition fees may prompt a reassessment of this route, particularly for smaller debts. The added costs could make bankruptcy petitions harder to justify for smaller businesses or individual creditors. This could lead to a shift towards alternative debt recovery strategies, such as negotiated settlements which may be more cost-effective.
How We Can Help You Adapt
Ward Hadaway is committed to guiding clients through these changes to enable informed decision making. Ward Hadaway can assess the benefits of each option and advise on the most efficient and cost-effective strategies for recovering debts in light of the increased court fees. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team for with any further questions.
Article co-authored by Vicki Alexander, Partner and Emily Stott, Solicitor Apprentice
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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