The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014

Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules 1998

22.  In Part 55—

(a) in rule 55.3, for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) In the County Court—

(a) the claimant may make the claim at any County Court hearing centre, unless paragraph (2) applies or an enactment provides otherwise;

(b) the claim will be issued by the hearing centre where the claim is made; and

(c) if the claim is not made at the County Court hearing centre which serves the address where the land is situated, the claim will be sent to the hearing centre serving that address when it is issued.

(Practice Direction 55A includes further direction in respect of claims which are not made at the County Court hearing centre which serves the address where the land is situated.)”;

(b) in rule 55.5—

(i) in paragraph (1), for “The court” substitute “Subject to paragraph (1A), the court”;

(ii) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) If the claim is not made at the County Court hearing centre which serves the address where the land is situated, a date will be fixed for hearing when the claim is received by that hearing centre.”;

(c) in rule 55.11, for paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) The claim—

(a) may be brought in any County Court hearing centre; and

(b) will be issued by the hearing centre where it is brought.”; and

(d) in rule 55.16—

(i) in paragraph (1), in subparagraph (b), for “he” substitute “the judge”; and

(ii) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) If—

(a) the judge directs that a date be fixed for hearing in accordance either with paragraph (2) or rule 55.18(1); and

(b) the claim has not been brought in the County Court hearing centre which serves the address where the land is situated,

the judge will direct that the proceedings should be transferred to that hearing centre.”.