C1PART IIIORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
General Jurisdiction
General civil jurisdiction10
1
Subject to the provisions of this Part, a county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any action in which the amount claimed, or the value of specific chattels claimed, does not exceed F20£30,000 , including (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions of this paragraph) any action in which a balance not exceeding F20£30,000 is claimed—
a
on foot of an account (including a partnership account);
b
after allowances made for any amount admitted by the plaintiff to be due by him to the defendant (whether by way of set-off or on foot of a counterclaim or otherwise); or
c
after the abandonment by the plaintiff of any sum by which the amount alleged to be due to him by the defendant exceeds F20£30,000 , so, however, that a decree in respect of any cause of action to which this sub-paragraph applies shall be, and be expressed to be, in full discharge of all demands in respect of that cause of action.
2
A county court shall not have jurisdiction to hear any action claiming damages exceedingF1 £3,000 in respect of libel or slander.
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4
A county court shall not have jurisdiction to hear any Admiralty cause or matter.
5
A county court shall not have jurisdiction to hear any action in which the title to any toll, fair, market or franchise is in question.
6
A claim for the recovery of any rent or other sum not exceedingF1 £15,000 due in respect of the use and occupation of any land may be joined with, and heard and determined together with, a claim under this Part for the recovery of that land.
Recovery of Legacies, Annuities, etc.
Recovery of legacies, annuities, etc.11
1
Without prejudice to Article 10, a county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any such action as is referred to in paragraph (2) or (3).
2
This paragraph refers to actions—
a
where the gross value of the estate of a deceased person does not exceedF2 £45,000, brought against the representative of that person by or on behalf of any person claiming to be entitled to any specific or other legacy or gift of residue out of, or a distributive share of, that estate; or
b
brought against the representative of a deceased person (irrespective of the value of his estate) by any person—
i
as legatee of a pecuniary legacy not exceedingF2 £15,000; or
ii
claiming to be entitled to arrears not exceedingF2 £15,000 of any annuity payable out of that estate; or
c
brought by—
i
any person claiming as legatee of a pecuniary legacy not exceedingF2 £15,000 charged on or payable out of any land; or
ii
any person claiming to be entitled to arrears not exceedingF2 £15,000 in respect of any rent-charge or annuity so charged as aforesaid;
against the person entitled to the land so charged, irrespective of the value of the estate or fund or F3the net annual value or capital value of any land affected.
3
In an action brought on foot of any charitable donation or bequest, a county court may award a sum not exceedingF2 £45,000 for principal or £2,000 for any annual sum, interest or rent-charge.
4
In an action against representatives of a deceased person under this Article it shall lie with the plaintiff to prove that the defendants have received or but for their wilful default might have received assets of the deceased person sufficient for the satisfaction wholly or partly in the due course of administration of the plaintiff's claim.
Actions for Recovery of, or involving title to, Land
Actions for recovery of, or involving title to, land12
F41
A county court shall, subject to paragraphs (1A) to (4) have jurisdiction to hear and determine any action—
a
for recovery of land; or
b
in which the title to any land comes in question;
if either of the following sub-paragraphs applies—
i
the net annual value of the land does not exceed £4,060; or
ii
the capital value of the land does not exceed £400,000.
1A
Where land has a net annual value and a capital value, both conditions in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) must be satisfied.
2
An action for the recovery of land for non-payment of rent (not being an action for overholding) shall not be commenced unless at least one year's rent of the land sought to be recovered remains unpaid immediately before such commencement.
3
A county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine an action for the recovery of any land (irrespective of the amount of the F5its net annual value or its capital value) where—
a
at least six months' rent of that land remains unpaid; and
b
the tenant has deserted or otherwise abandoned the land leaving any premises thereon unoccupied or the land not farmed in accordance with the rules of good husbandry.
4
A county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine an action by or on behalf of the owner of any land (irrespective of the amount of the F5its net annual value or its capital value) where—
a
any person has, by or on behalf of such owner, been put into possession or occupation thereof by permission or as a servant or caretaker or as a tenant strictly at will or on sufferance; and
b
that person (or any other person claiming through or under him) neglects or refuses to quit and deliver up possession on demand made by or on behalf of such owner;
but this paragraph shall not prejudice or affect any other remedy available to such owner.
Injunctions
Jurisdiction as respects injunctions13
1
Without prejudice to Article 14, a county court shall have the like jurisdiction as the High Court to grant an injunction with respect or in relation to any property (whether real or personal) or right with respect or in relation to which any proceedings might be brought in a county court.
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Subject to paragraph (3), proceedings under this Article in respect of any easement, profit or other right may be brought—
a
in the case where the servient tenement has a net annual value, only where that value does not exceed £4,060;
b
in the case where the servient tenement has a capital value, only where that value does not exceed £400,000.
3
Where the servient tenement has a net annual value and a capital value, both conditions in sub-paragraph (a) and (b) of paragraph (2) must be satisfied.
Equity Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction in equity matters14
Without prejudice to any other provision of this Order, a county court shall have the like jurisdiction as the High Court to hear and determine any of the following proceedings, that is to say—
a
b
c
any suit for possession, sale or redemption of, or for enforcing any mortgage, charge or lien whatsoever upon, lands not exceedingF8 the relevant valuation limits;
d
any suit for the specific performance of an agreement for the sale, purchase or letting of any lands, or for the rectification, delivering up or cancelling of any such agreement, where as respects a sale the purchase money does not exceedF7 £45,000 or as respects a letting F9the value of the land does not exceedF10the relevant valuation limits;
e
any suit for relief against fraud or mistake, where the damage sustained or the value of the subject matter of the suit so far as it consists of property other than land does not exceedF7 £45,000 or F9the value of such subject matter so far as it consists of land does not exceedF10the relevant valuation limits;
f
any suit for the taking of any partnership account or for the dissolution or winding up of any partnership (whether or not the existence of the partnership is in dispute) where the whole assets of the partnership do not exceedF7 £45,000 in amount or value;
g
any proceedings for the partition of land not exceedingF8 the relevant valuation limits;
h
any proceedings by a landlord against a tenant to restrain waste (whether or not an account is sought) where the holding does not exceedF8 the relevant valuation limits;
i
j
applications under section 17 of the Married Women's Property Act 1882 [1882 c.75] F12 or section 191 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, irrespective of the value of the property in dispute;
k
any proceedings under the Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 [1958 c.23] , where the trust property to which the proceedings relate so far as it consists of property other than land does not exceedF7 £45,000 in amount or value and so far as it consists of land does not exceedF8 the relevant valuation limits ;
l
any proceedings relating to the maintenance or advancement or for the protection of the property of an infant where such property so far as it consists of property other than land does not exceedF7 £45,000 in amount or value and so far as it consists of land does not exceedF8 the relevant valuation limits;
m
any application by a person claiming to be interested under a deed, will or other written instrument, for the determination of any question of construction arising thereunder, and for a declaration of the rights of the persons interested, where the property to which the application relates so far as it consists of property other than land does not exceedF7 £45,000 in amount or value and so far as it consists of land does not exceedF8 the relevant valuation limits
n
any such application or proceeding as is referred to in section 43(2) of the Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 [1955 c.24] .
F13and for the purposes of this Article—
aa
“the relevant valuation limits” means where the land has a net annual value, £4,060 and where the land has a capital value, £400,000;
bb
“value” means net annual value or, as the case may be, capital value.
Probate Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction in contentious probate matters15
A county court shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the Administration of Estates (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 [1979 NI 14] , have the jurisdiction of the High Court in respect of any contentious matter arising in connection with the grant or revocation of probate or administration.
Power to grant limited administration16
1
Where—
a
a person dies concerning whose property any proceedings are pending in a county court; and
F14b
subject to paragraph (iii), the gross value of his property (exclusive of property to which he was entitled as a trustee and not beneficially) so far as it consists of property other than land does not exceed £45,000 in value and so far as it consists of land does not exceed—
i
in the case where the land has a net annual value, £4,060;
ii
in the case where the land has a capital value, £400,000;
iii
in the case where the land has a net annual value and a capital value, both conditions in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (b) are satisfied.
c
the judge is satisfied that representation has not been raised to him or that no representative is available for the purpose of the proceedings;
the judge may by order in writing under his hand appoint as executor for the purpose only of such proceedings such person as the judge may think fit; and such order shall be made subject to such conditions as to the giving of security and otherwise as the judge may think proper.
2
A person appointed under paragraph (1) shall for such purpose as aforesaid represent the deceased person as fully and effectually as if that person had died intestate and administration of his estate had been duly granted to the person so appointed.
Representatives to lodge accounts if required17
1
The representatives of a deceased person the value of whose estate does not exceedF15 £45,000 shall, if so required in writing at any time after the expiration of twelve months from the death of that person, by a legatee, devisee, next-of-kin, heir, creditor or other person interested in the estate, make up and lodge in accordance with county court rules a duly verified account setting forth such particulars of the estate as shall be prescribed; and any representative failing to comply with such a requisition shall be guilty of contempt of court.
2
Every such account shall be preserved among the records of the chief clerk and shall, as against the representative signing it, be evidence of the matters therein set forth.
Funds in Court
Lodgment in court of legacies, etc., of infants and absentees18
Where—
a
a person who under a decree becomes entitled to a legacy or any sum of money or securities, is an infant or is out of the United Kingdom; or
b
the court is satisfied that the address of any person so entitled cannot be ascertained without undue expense or delay;
the court may order that the legacy, sum or securities be lodged, in accordance with rules made under section 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 [1978 c.23] , either in the High Court or in the county court.
Payment into court under Trustee Act19
Subject to rules made under section 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 [1978 c.23] , a county court shall have the like jurisdiction as the High Court under section 63 of the Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 [1958 c.23] , to receive lodgments of money or securities in the hands or under the control of trustees where the amount or value thereof does not exceedF16 £45,000, and the said section 63 shall have effect accordingly.
Payment into court in administration suits, etc.20
1
In any proceedings for the administration of or otherwise relating to the estate of a deceased person, or relating to any money or securities, in the hands or under the control of trustees, the court may at any time order money or securities to be lodged in court in accordance with rules made under section 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.
2
Paragraph (1) shall not prejudice or affect the operation of sections 38(5) and 43(2) of the Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 [1955 c.24] , or any other statutory provision authorising the lodgment of any moneys in a county court.
Transfer to county court of money recovered in High Court by infants, etc.21
1
Where in any cause or matter in the High Court money is in any manner recovered by or on behalf of, or adjudged or ordered to be paid to or for the benefit of, a person who is an infant or of unsound mind, the High Court may order the money or any part thereof to be paid into or transferred to F22such county court as the High Court may order.
2
On the making of any such order, the money or the part thereof to which the order relates shall be paid or transferred according to the order, and shall, subject to any special order or direction of the High Court and to rules made under section 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 be invested, applied or otherwise dealt with for the benefit of the person to whom the order relates in such manner as the county court in its discretion thinks fit.
Power to increase Jurisdiction
Power to increase civil jurisdiction of county courts22
1
If it appears to the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, that—
a
a sum specified in any of the foregoing provisions of this Part or in Article 30(1) or (3) should be increased, or
b
where any other statutory provision limits the jurisdiction of county courts by reference (howsoever expressed) to a sum of money, that sum should be increased,
the Lord Chancellor mayF17, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, by order, specifying the provision and the sum in question, direct that the provision shall be amended so as to substitute for that sum such larger sum as may be specified in the order.
2
An order under paragraph (1) shall be subject to F18negative resolution.
Jurisdiction by Agreement in, and Transfer of, Civil Proceedings
Agreement conferring original civil jurisdiction23
1
Where by any provision of this Order or any other statutory provision the jurisdiction of county courts is limited by reference to any amount of money or value, or annual value, a county court shall, notwithstanding any such limitation but subject to paragraph (3), have jurisdiction to hear and determine any proceedings to which this Article applies.
2
This Article does not apply to proceedings under section 57 of the Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 [1958 c.23] but, save as aforesaid, this Article applies to proceedings on foot of any contract or agreement being proceedings for a liquidated amount and—
a
which but for such limitation as aforesaid would be within the jurisdiction of a county court; and
b
as respects which the parties and their respective solicitors have entered into, signed and lodged in the Office before the commencement of the proceedings an agreement that a county court therein specified is to have jurisdiction.
3
Where an agreement is lodged under paragraph (2) the county court judge may refuse to determine the proceedings to which it relates if in his opinion they involve an important question of law or fact properly triable in the High Court, and where he so refuses shall on the application of any party certify the reason for such refusal.
4
In any action heard in a county court under this Article the county court shall have the like jurisdiction as the High Court as to the giving of any relief claimed, including (but without prejudice to the generality of this paragraph) the amount of damages that may be awarded.
Procedure in proceedings beyond jurisdiction commenced in county court24
Where in the course of any proceedings in a county court it appears to the judge that by reason of any statutory provision the proceedings are not within the jurisdiction of that court and ought to have been commenced in the High Court then—
a
on the application of any party, or of his own motion, the judge may so certify to the Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals); or
b
if the proceedings might have been heard by him by virtue of such an agreement as is referred to in Article 23(2), the judge may if the parties so consent hear and determine those proceedings; or
c
if on the application of the defendant it appears to the judge that any plaintiff knew or ought to have known that the proceedings were not within the jurisdiction of the court, he may order the proceedings to be struck out and may in his discretion make such an order as to costs as he might have made if the proceedings had been heard and determined in favour of the defendant.
Transfer from one county court to another25
1
Where in the course of any proceedings in a county court it appears to the judge that by reason of any statutory provision the proceedings are not within the jurisdiction of that court and ought to have been commenced in another county court, he may order the proceedings to be transferred to that other court, and such proceedings shall be heard and determined accordingly by that other court.
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3
Where any proceedings in which the costs are by virtue of any statutory provision in the discretion of the court are transferred from one county court to another, that discretion shall, subject to any order made by the court which ordered the transfer, or to any relevant agreement between the parties, be exercised by the court by which the proceedings are heard and determined.
Actions transferred from courts of summary jurisdiction26
Any terms imposed by a court of summary jurisdiction in ordering an action to be transferred to a county court underF19 Article 75 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 shall be enforceable in like manner as terms imposed by an order of a county court.
Remittal and Removal
Saving for powers of remittal and removal27
Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Part shall prejudice the operation of section 31 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 [1978 c.23] (remittal and removal of proceedings).
Pt. III applied by 2003 c. 31, Sch. 2 para. 27(1)(2) (as inserted (17.7.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 73(2), 88(1) (with s. 86(14)(15)); S.I. 2015/1428, reg. 2(a))