The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

PART 5 E+W COURT DOCUMENTS

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 5 excluded in part (1.11.2009) by The Water Industry (Special Administration) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2477), rules 2, 81

C2 Pt. 5 applied (18.6.2012) by The Penalty Charges Enforcement (London) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1234), regs. 1, 5(8)

Contents of this Part

Scope of this Part	Rule 5.1
Preparation of documents	Rule 5.2
Signature of documents by mechanical means	Rule 5.3
[F1 Register of claims	Rule 5.4
[F2 Supply of documents to Attorney-General from court records	Rule 5.4A]
Supply of documents to a party from court records	Rule 5.4B
Supply of documents to a non-party from court records	Rule 5.4C
Supply of documents from court records – general	Rule 5.4D
Filing and sending documents	Rule 5.5
Documents in the Welsh language	Rule 5.6]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Pt. 5 Table of Contents substituted (1.10.2018) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/975), rules 1(1), 4(a)

F2 Words in Pt. 5 Table of Contents inserted (6.4.2019) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2019 (S.I. 2019/342), rules 1(1), 3

Scope of this Part E+W

5.1  This Part contains general provisions about—

(a) documents used in court proceedings; and

(b) the obligations of a court officer in relation to those documents.

Commencement Information

I1 Rule 5.1 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Preparation of documents E+W

5.2—(1) Where under these Rules, a document is to be prepared by the court, the document may be prepared by the party whose document it is, unless—

(a) a court officer otherwise directs; or

(b) it is a document to which—

F3 (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iii) CCR Order 28, rule 11(1) (issue of warrant of committal),

applies.

(2) Nothing in this rule shall require a court officer to accept a document which is illegible, has not been duly authorised, or is unsatisfactory for some other similar reason.

Textual Amendments

F3 Rule 5.2(1)(b)(i) omitted (25.3.2002) by virtue of The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/2792), rules 1(c), 3 (with rule 24)

F4 Rule 5.2(1)(b)(ii) omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/867), rules 1, 6 (with rule 25)

Commencement Information

I2 Rule 5.2 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Signature of documents by mechanical means E+W

5.3  Where any of these Rules or any practice direction requires a document to be signed, that requirement shall be satisfied if the signature is printed by computer or other mechanical means.

Commencement Information

I3 Rule 5.3 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

[F5 Register of claims E+W

5.4— (1) A court or court office may keep a publicly accessible register of claims which have been issued out of that court or court office.

(2) Any person who pays the prescribed fee may, during office hours, search any available register of claims.

• ([F6 Practice Direction 5A] contains details of available registers).]

Textual Amendments

F5 Rule 5.4 substituted (2.10.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/1689), rules 1, 3(a)

F6 Words in rule 5.4 substituted (6.4.2010) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/3390), rules 1(2), 4(a)

[F7 Supply of documents to Attorney-General from court records E+W

5.4A.— (1) The Attorney-General may search for, inspect and take a copy of any documents within a court file for the purpose of preparing an application or considering whether to make an application under section 42 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 or section 33 of the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (restriction of vexatious proceedings).

(2) The Attorney-General must, when exercising the right under paragraph (1)—

(a) pay any prescribed fee; and

(b) file a written request, which must—

(i) confirm that the request is for the purpose of preparing an application or considering whether to make an application mentioned in paragraph (1); and

(ii) name the person who would be the subject of the application.]

Textual Amendments

F7 Rule 5.4A inserted (1.6.2004) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2004 (S.I. 2004/1306), rules 1(a), 3

[F8 Supply of documents to a party from court records E+W

5.4B.— (1) A party to proceedings may, unless the court orders otherwise, obtain from the records of the court a copy of any document listed in paragraph 4.2A of [F9 Practice Direction 5A].

(2) A party to proceedings may, if the court gives permission, obtain from the records of the court a copy of any other document filed by a party or communication between the court and a party or another person.

Textual Amendments

F8 Rules 5.4B-5.4D inserted (2.10.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/1689), rules 1, 3(b)

F9 Words in rule 5.4B(1) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/3390), rules 1(2), 4(b)

Supply of documents to a non-party from court records E+W

5.4C.— (1) The general rule is that a person who is not a party to proceedings may obtain from the court records a copy of—

(a) a statement of case, but not any documents filed with or attached to the statement of case, or intended by the party whose statement it is to be served with it;

(b) a judgment or order given or made in public (whether made at a hearing or without a hearing) F10 ... .

[F11 (1A) Where a non-party seeks to obtain a copy of a statement of case filed before 2nd October 2006—

(a) this rule does not apply; and

(b) the rules of court relating to access by a non-party to statements of case in force immediately before 2nd October 2006 apply as if they had not been revoked.

(The rules relating to access by a non-party to statements of case in force immediately before 2nd October 2006 were contained in the former rule 5.4(5) to 5.4(9). [F12 Practice Direction 5A] sets out the relevant provisions as they applied to statements of case.).]

F13 (1B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) A non-party may, if the court gives permission, obtain from the records of the court a copy of any other document filed by a party, or communication between the court and a party or another person.

(3) A non-party may obtain a copy of a statement of case or judgment or order under paragraph (1) only if—

(a) where there is one defendant, the defendant has filed an acknowledgment of service or a defence;

(b) where there is more than one defendant, either—

(i) all the defendants have filed an acknowledgment of service or a defence;

(ii) at least one defendant has filed an acknowledgment of service or a defence, and the court gives permission;

(c) the claim has been listed for a hearing; or

(d) judgment has been entered in the claim.

(4) The court may, on the application of a party or of any person identified in a statement of case—

(a) order that a non-party may not obtain a copy of [F14 a statement of case] under paragraph (1);

(b) restrict the persons or classes of persons who may obtain a copy of [F14 a statement of case];

(c) order that persons or classes of persons may only obtain a copy of [F14 a statement of case] if it is edited in accordance with the directions of the court; or

(d) make such other order as it thinks fit.

(5) A person wishing to apply for an order under paragraph (4) must file an application notice in accordance with Part 23.

(6) Where the court makes an order under paragraph (4), a non-party who wishes to obtain a copy of the statement of case, or to obtain an unedited copy of the statement of case, may apply on notice to the party or person identified in the statement of case who requested the order, for permission.

Textual Amendments

F8 Rules 5.4B-5.4D inserted (2.10.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/1689), rules 1, 3(b)

F10 Words in rule 5.4C(1)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/521), regs. 1(1), 3(2)(a) (with reg. 17) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 9(2)(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 Rule 5.4C(1A) inserted (18.12.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/3132), rules 1, 3(a)

F12 Words in rule 5.4C(1A) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/3390), rules 1(2), 4(c)

F13 Rule 5.4C(1B) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/521), regs. 1(1), 3(2)(b) (with reg. 17) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 9(2)(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in rule 5.4C(4) substituted (18.12.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/3132), rules 1, 3(b)

Supply of documents from court records - general E+W

5.4D.— (1) A person wishing to obtain a copy of a document under rule 5.4B or rule 5.4C must pay any prescribed fee and—

(a) if the court’s permission is required, file an application notice in accordance with Part 23; or

(b) if permission is not required, file a written request for the document.

(2) An application for an order under rule 5.4C(4) or for permission to obtain a copy of a document under rule 5.4B or rule 5.4C (except an application for permission under rule 5.4C(6)) may be made without notice, but the court may direct notice to be given to any person who would be affected by its decision.

(3) Rules 5.4, 5.4B and 5.4C do not apply in relation to any proceedings in respect of which a rule or practice direction makes different provision.

[F15 (Rules 5.4, 5.4B and 5.4C are disapplied by rules 76.34, 79.30, 80.30, 82.18 and 88.33; and rule 5.4C is disapplied, and rule 5.4B applied subject to court order, by paragraph 23 of Practice Direction [F16 49E].)]]

Textual Amendments

F8 Rules 5.4B-5.4D inserted (2.10.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/1689), rules 1, 3(b)

F15 Words in rule 5.4D inserted (1.10.2015) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2015 (S.I. 2015/1569), rules 1(2), 6

F16 Word in rule 5.4D substituted (1.10.2022) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/783), rules 1(1), 6

[F17 Filing and sending documents E+W

5.5— (1) A practice direction may make provision for documents to be filed or sent to the court by—

(a) facsimile; or

(b) other electronic means.

(2) Any such practice direction may—

(a) provide that only particular categories of documents may be filed or sent to the court by such means;

(b) provide that particular provisions only apply in specific courts; and

(c) specify the requirements that must be fulfilled for any document filed or sent to the court by such means.]

Textual Amendments

F17 Rule 5.5 inserted (2.12.2002) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2058), rules 1(b), 4

[F18 Documents in the Welsh language E+W

5.6.— (1) Any document placed before the court in civil proceedings in or having a connection with Wales may be in the English or Welsh language.

(2) It is the responsibility of any party if acting in person or of that party’s legal representative to inform the court as soon as practicable if documents in the Welsh language will or may be placed before the court, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.]

Textual Amendments

F18 Rule 5.6 inserted (1.10.2018) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/975), rules 1(1), 4(b)