How do I sue someone?

It is always best to get advice from a solicitor before starting court proceedings.  In the first instance, the parties to a dispute are always encouraged to try to resolve the issue between themselves and a solicitor could help you do this. This will route will help you to resolve the dispute more quickly and avoid costly court proceedings.

If the dispute cannot be resolved at an early stage, or alternative dispute resolution is not appropriate, the solicitor can then prepare court proceedings to be issued at court on your behalf.    

Starting a claim is one of the most important steps in the court procedure.  If you try to do this yourself, you risk stating your case incorrectly in terms of the law, or leaving parts of your claim out.  When this happens it can cost a lot of money to correct your case at a later date.   

In a worst case scenario you could even lose your case and have a court order made against you, requiring you to pay the other party's costs. 

If you are considering suing someone and wish to know how much it could cost to issue proceedings, please contact our Dispute Resolution department and we would be happy to provide you with a fee estimate.