Do I have to pay court fees if I cannot afford them?

No. UK court fees can be remitted (waived) in whole or in part under the Help with Fees scheme if your monthly income and savings fall below the published thresholds. Apply at gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees using form EX160 (or online). Approval is based on a means test similar to Legal Aid but separate from it. The decision is usually returned within 5 working days.

Are employment tribunal fees still abolished?

Yes. Employment tribunal claim fees were quashed by the Supreme Court in R (Unison) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51, and no replacement claim fee has been introduced. As at 2026, there is no fee to lodge an unfair dismissal, discrimination, or other employment tribunal claim. A separate £80 hearing fee in the Employment Appeal Tribunal applies for appeals.

Are court fees recoverable from the losing party?

In civil litigation, court fees are usually recoverable as part of the costs award if you win, subject to the court's discretion. In family law and employment tribunals, each party generally bears their own court fees regardless of outcome. In probate and divorce, the fee is paid by the applicant and not recovered.

Home/Court Fees

Court Fees

UK Court Fees 2026

Current UK court fees from the HMCTS Fees Order. Updated May 2026. These are statutory fees paid to the court, separate from your solicitor's charge.

Headline UK court fees 2026

Service	Fee	Statutory source
Divorce application	£593	Family Proceedings Fees Order
Probate (estate over £5,000)	£300	Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2022
Probate (estate £5,000 and under)	Free	Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2022
Sealed copy of grant of probate	£1.50 each	Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2022
Children Act application (private)	£255	Family Proceedings Fees Order
Civil claim issue fee	£35 to £10,000	Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008
Employment tribunal claim fee	£0 (abolished by Unison 2017)	R (Unison) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51
Employment Appeal Tribunal	£80 issue + £500 hearing	Employment Appeal Tribunal Fees Order
Lasting Power of Attorney registration	£82 per LPA	OPG fee schedule

Civil money claim issue fees

Fees to issue a money claim in the County Court or High Court (Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008, as amended):

Claim value	Issue fee
Up to £300	£35
£300.01 to £500	£50
£500.01 to £1,000	£70
£1,000.01 to £1,500	£80
£1,500.01 to £3,000	£115
£3,000.01 to £5,000	£205
£5,000.01 to £10,000	£455
£10,000.01 to £200,000	5% of value
Over £200,000	£10,000

High-value claims attract a 5% ad-valorem fee capped at £10,000. Online money-claim service (MCOL) for sub-£100,000 claims uses the same schedule with a small discount.

Help with Fees: who qualifies for remission

UK court fees can be waived in whole or in part under the Help with Fees scheme. Eligibility is by means test (income + savings). The scheme is administered through the EX160 form or online application at gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees. As at 2026:

Monthly gross income limit (single, no children): £1,420. Add £710 per dependent child.
Savings limit: £4,250 if under 66, £16,000 if 66 or over. Higher for fees of £1,000+.
Universal Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, and Guarantee Credit recipients automatically pass the income test.

The means test for Help with Fees is separate from the Legal Aid Agency means test. You can qualify for one without the other.

Employment tribunals: the Unison position

Employment tribunal claim fees were abolished by the Supreme Court in R (on the application of Unison) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51, which quashed the Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal Fees Order 2013 on grounds of access to justice. No replacement claim fee has been introduced. As at 2026, you can lodge an unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, or other employment tribunal claim without paying a fee.

Limited fees remain in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (£80 issue + £500 hearing) for appeals from the first-tier Employment Tribunal. Help with Fees applies.

Related guides

Primary source: gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are. See also Help with Fees.