Particulars of Claim

What Are Particulars of Claim?

Particulars of claim are the formal written statement that sets out the details of your case against the defendant. They form the most important part of your N1 Claim Form and tell the court and the defendant exactly what your claim is about, why you believe you are entitled to a remedy, and what you are asking for.

Under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR Part 16), the particulars of claim must be contained in or served with the claim form, or served on the defendant within 14 days of the claim form being served. For most small claims, the particulars are included directly on the N1 form in the box provided.

The particulars of claim serve several critical functions:

1.They define the scope of your claim - the court can only consider matters raised in your particulars
2.They give the defendant fair notice of the case they need to answer
3.They help the court decide which track to allocate the claim to
4.They form the basis for the statement of truth you must sign

Space on the N1 form

The N1 form has limited space for particulars of claim. If your particulars are too long to fit in the box, you can attach them on a separate sheet. Write "See attached" in the box and staple your particulars to the form. For claims issued online via Money Claims Online (MCOL), there is a character limit of 1,080 characters.

What to Include in Your Particulars of Claim

Good particulars of claim should be clear, concise, and contain all the essential elements the court needs to understand your case. Under CPR Part 16, your particulars must include:

A Concise Statement of the Material Facts

Material facts are the essential facts that give rise to your claim. You must set out what happened, when it happened, and who was involved. Do not include evidence (such as what a witness said) or argument (such as why the defendant's behaviour was unreasonable) - just the facts.

For example, in a breach of contract claim, the material facts would include: the date the contract was made, the key terms, how the defendant breached those terms, and what loss you suffered as a result.

The Legal Basis for Your Claim

You should identify the legal basis on which you are claiming. For small claims, this is usually straightforward:

- Breach of contract: The defendant failed to perform their obligations under an agreement
- Consumer Rights Act 2015: Goods were not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, or as described
- Negligence: The defendant owed you a duty of care and breached it, causing you loss
- Debt: A sum of money is owed and has not been paid

The Remedy Sought

State clearly what you are asking the court to order. This will usually be one or more of the following:

- Payment of a specific sum of money (damages)
- Interest on the amount claimed
- Court fees and fixed costs
- An order requiring the defendant to do or stop doing something (injunction)
- Return of goods or property

A Claim for Interest

If you are claiming interest, you must state the legal basis for the interest claim (usually Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984), the rate claimed (usually 8% per annum), the date from which interest is claimed, the date to which it has been calculated, the total amount of interest to that date, and the daily rate thereafter.

The Statement of Truth

The particulars of claim must be verified by a statement of truth. This is a declaration that the facts stated are believed to be true. On the N1 form, the statement of truth is in a separate box and must be signed by the claimant (or their legal representative). Making a false statement verified by a statement of truth may result in proceedings for contempt of court.

Particulars of Claim Examples

Below are example particulars of claim for common types of small claims dispute. These are simplified examples to illustrate the correct structure and content. Your own particulars should be tailored to the specific facts of your case.

Example 1: Breach of Contract (Unpaid Invoice)

1. The Claimant is a freelance web designer carrying on business at [address].

2. The Defendant is a company registered at [address].

3. By a written agreement dated 15 March 2025 ("the Contract"), the Claimant agreed to design and build a website for the Defendant for a total fee of £3,500, payable within 30 days of completion.

4. The Claimant completed the work on 20 May 2025 and delivered the finished website to the Defendant. The Defendant confirmed acceptance of the work by email dated 22 May 2025.

5. The Claimant issued an invoice (No. 1042) dated 22 May 2025 for £3,500, payable by 21 June 2025.

6. Despite the invoice falling due and despite the Claimant's letter before action dated 15 July 2025, the Defendant has failed to make any payment.

7. The Claimant therefore claims:

(a) The sum of £3,500;

(b) Interest pursuant to Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at a rate of 8% per annum from 22 June 2025 to the date of issue, a period of 120 days, amounting to £92.05, and continuing at a daily rate of £0.77;

Example 2: Faulty Goods (Consumer Rights Act 2015)

1. On 10 January 2025, the Claimant purchased a washing machine (model: [model name]) from the Defendant's retail store at [address] for the sum of £649.99.

2. The Claimant is a consumer within the meaning of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ("CRA 2015").

3. Within 3 weeks of purchase, the washing machine developed a fault: it failed to complete any wash cycle, stopping mid-cycle with an error code. The machine also leaked water from the door seal.

4. The goods were not of satisfactory quality contrary to section 9 of the CRA 2015 and/or were not fit for purpose contrary to section 10 of the CRA 2015.

5. On 5 February 2025, the Claimant notified the Defendant of the faults and requested a repair or replacement under section 23 of the CRA 2015. The Defendant refused.

6. The Claimant sent a letter before action dated 1 March 2025 requesting a full refund. The Defendant did not respond.

7. The Claimant has exercised the right to reject the goods under section 22 of the CRA 2015.

8. The Claimant therefore claims:

(a) A refund of the purchase price of £649.99;

(b) Interest pursuant to Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at 8% per annum from 5 February 2025;

Example 3: Unpaid Debt (Loan Between Individuals)

1. On or about 1 June 2024, the Claimant lent the Defendant the sum of £2,000. The loan was made by bank transfer from the Claimant's account to the Defendant's account.

2. It was agreed between the parties, by text message on 1 June 2024, that the Defendant would repay the full amount by 1 September 2024.

3. Despite the agreed repayment date having passed, and despite repeated requests for repayment, the Defendant has failed to repay any part of the loan.

4. A letter before action was sent on 15 October 2024. The Defendant acknowledged receipt but has made no payment.

5. The Claimant therefore claims:

(a) The sum of £2,000;

(b) Interest pursuant to Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at 8% per annum from 2 September 2024;

Example 4: Builder / Home Improvement Dispute

1. By an oral agreement made on or about 10 April 2025, the Claimant engaged the Defendant to carry out kitchen refurbishment works at the Claimant's property at [address] for an agreed price of £8,000.

2. It was an express term of the agreement that the works would be completed within 4 weeks (by 8 May 2025). It was an implied term of the agreement that the works would be carried out with reasonable care and skill pursuant to section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

3. The Claimant paid the Defendant £4,000 in advance on 10 April 2025 and £2,000 on 25 April 2025, a total of £6,000.

4. The Defendant failed to complete the works. The Defendant carried out approximately 60% of the works but abandoned the project on 12 May 2025 without explanation and has not returned.

5. The works that were carried out were defective in the following respects: (a) the kitchen units were not level; (b) the tiling was poorly finished with uneven grouting; (c) the plumbing was not properly connected, causing a leak.

6. The Claimant obtained a quotation from an independent contractor dated 1 June 2025 to complete the remaining works and remedy the defects. The quotation is for £5,200.

7. The Claimant's loss is £5,200 (cost to complete and remedy) less £2,000 (unpaid balance of the original contract price) = £3,200.

8. A letter before action was sent on 20 June 2025. The Defendant did not respond.

9. The Claimant therefore claims:

(a) Damages of £3,200;

(b) Interest pursuant to Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at 8% per annum from 12 May 2025;

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many small claims fail or are weakened because the particulars of claim contain errors. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Being too vague

Statements like "the defendant owes me money" or "the work was bad" are not sufficient. You must include specific dates, amounts, and details of what went wrong. The defendant needs to understand exactly what case they have to answer.

Including evidence instead of facts

Particulars of claim should state facts, not evidence. Do not include things like "my neighbour saw the builder leave" or "the email proves they agreed". Simply state the facts: "The Defendant abandoned the works on [date]" or "By email dated [date], the Defendant agreed to [terms]". Evidence comes later.

Being too emotional or argumentative

Keep the tone factual and professional. Avoid statements like "the defendant is a liar" or "this is outrageous". The court wants to see clear, dispassionate facts. Emotional language undermines your credibility.

Forgetting the interest claim

If you do not claim interest in your particulars, the court cannot award it. Always include a claim for interest, specifying the statutory basis (Section 69), the rate (8%), the period, the total calculated, and the daily rate.

Not explaining how loss was calculated

The court needs to understand how you arrived at the amount you are claiming. If the loss is not simply an unpaid invoice, explain the calculation. For example, in a builder dispute, show the cost to remedy defects minus any unpaid balance on the original contract.

Claiming for the wrong defendant

Make sure you are claiming against the correct legal entity. If you contracted with a limited company, claim against the company (not the individual director). If you dealt with a sole trader, use their personal name plus "trading as [business name]".

Tips for Writing Strong Particulars of Claim

Use numbered paragraphs

Number every paragraph sequentially. This makes it easy for the court and the defendant to refer to specific parts of your claim. It also shows you have structured your case logically.

Tell the story in chronological order

Start with how the relationship or agreement began, then describe what went wrong, and finish with what you are claiming. A clear timeline helps the judge understand your case quickly.

Be specific about dates and amounts

Always include exact dates where possible (e.g. "on 15 March 2025"). If you do not know the exact date, use "on or about [date]". Include specific amounts in pounds and pence.

Refer to documents by type and date

When referring to contracts, invoices, or correspondence, identify them clearly: "By a written contract dated 10 January 2025" or "The Claimant's invoice (No. 1042) dated 22 May 2025". This makes it easy to match your particulars to your evidence.

State express and implied terms separately

If your claim involves a contract, distinguish between express terms (what was specifically agreed) and implied terms (what the law implies, such as the requirement for services to be performed with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015).

Include your pre-action compliance

Mention that you sent a letter before action and the date you sent it. This demonstrates to the court that you followed the pre-action protocol before issuing proceedings.

Keep it concise

For a small claim, your particulars should typically be between half a page and two pages. If you are writing more than two pages, you are probably including too much detail or evidence. Remember: the particulars set out facts and the remedy sought. Everything else comes at the hearing.

Generate Your Particulars of Claim with AI

Writing particulars of claim can feel daunting, especially if you have never done it before. JustClaim uses AI to generate professional, court-ready particulars based on your answers to simple questions about your dispute.

Our AI assistant understands the correct legal structure, references the right legislation (Consumer Rights Act, Section 69 interest, etc.), and formats everything with numbered paragraphs ready to include on your N1 form or attach as a separate document.

Related guides:

Let AI Write Your Particulars of Claim