The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

PART 2 E+W APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES

Contents of this Part

Application of the Rules	Rule 2.1
The glossary	Rule 2.2
Interpretation	Rule 2.3
Power of judge, Master or [F1 District Judge] to perform functions of the court	Rule 2.4
[F2 Jurisdiction of the County Court exercisable by a legal adviser	Rule 2.4A]
Court staff	Rule 2.5
Court documents to be sealed	Rule 2.6
Court’s discretion as to where it deals with cases	Rule 2.7
Time	Rule 2.8
Dates for compliance to be calendar dates and to include time of day	Rule 2.9
Meaning of “month” in judgments, etc.	Rule 2.10
Time limits may be varied by parties	Rule 2.11

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Rules substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 4(a)(iv); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F2 Words in Pt. 2 Table of Contents inserted (7.5.2018) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/479), rules 1(1), 3(a)

Application of the Rules E+W

2.1—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Rules apply to all proceedings in—

(a) [F3 County Court];

(b) the High Court; and

(c) the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.

(2) These Rules do not apply to proceedings of the kinds specified in the first column of the following Table (proceedings for which rules may be made under the enactments specified in the second column) except to the extent that they are applied to those proceedings by another enactment—

Proceedings	Enactments
1.  Insolvency proceedings E+W	Insolvency Act 1986(1), ss.411 and 412
2.  Non-contentious or common form probate proceedings E+W	Supreme Court Act 1981(2), s.127
3.  Proceedings in the High Court when acting as a Prize Court E+W	Prize Courts Act 1894(3), s.3
[F4 4.   Proceedings before the Court of Protection E+W	Mental Capacity Act 2005, s.51]
5.  Family proceedings E+W	[F5 Courts Act 2003, s.75]
[F6 6.   Adoption proceedings] E+W	F7 ... [F8 or Adoption and Children Act 2002, s.141] [F9 or Courts Act 2003, s.75]
[F10 7.   Election petitions in the High Court] E+W	[F11 Representation of the People Act 1983, s.182]

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Rules substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 4(a)(ii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F4 Words in rule 2.1 Table substituted (1.10.2007) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2007 (S.I. 2007/2204), rules 1, 3(a)

F5 Words in rule 2.1 Table substituted (6.4.2011) by The Family Procedure (Modification of Enactments) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1045), arts. 1, 18(a) (with art. 39)

F6 Words in rule 2.1 Table inserted (26.4.1999) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 1999 (S.I. 1999/1008), rules 1, 3(a)

F7 Words in rule 2.1 Table omitted (6.4.2011) by virtue of The Family Procedure (Modification of Enactments) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1045), arts. 1, 18(b)(i) (with art. 39)

F8 Words in rule 2.1 Table inserted (6.4.2006) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.4) Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/3515), rules 1, 3

F9 Words in rule 2.1 Table inserted (6.4.2011) by The Family Procedure (Modification of Enactments) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1045), arts. 1, 18(b)(ii) (with art. 39)

F10 Words in rule 2.1 Table inserted (2.6.2003) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2003 (S.I. 2003/1242), rules 1, 3(a)

F11 Words in rule 2.1 Table inserted (2.6.2003) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2003 (S.I. 2003/1242), rules 1, 3(b)

Commencement Information

I1 Rule 2.1 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

The glossary E+W

2.2—(1) The glossary at the end of these Rules is a guide to the meaning of certain legal expressions used in the Rules, but is not to be taken as giving those expressions any meaning in the Rules which they do not have in the law generally.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), words in these Rules which are included in the glossary are followed by “^(GL)”.

(3) The words ‘counterclaim’, ‘damages’, ‘practice form’ and ‘service’, which appear frequently in the Rules, are included in the glossary but are not followed by “^(GL)”.

Commencement Information

I2 Rule 2.2 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Interpretation E+W

2.3—(1) In these Rules—

• “child” has the meaning given by rule 21.1(2);

• [F12 “civil restraint order” means an order restraining a party—

  (a)

  from making any further applications in current proceedings (a limited civil restraint order);

  (b)

  from issuing certain claims or making certain applications in specified courts (an extended civil restraint order); or

  (c)

  from issuing any claim or making any application in specified courts (a general civil restraint order).]

• “claim for personal injuries” means proceedings in which there is a claim for damages in respect of personal injuries to the claimant or any other person or in respect of a person’s death, and “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition;

• “claimant” means a person who makes a claim;

• “CCR” is to be interpreted in accordance with Part 50;

• “court officer” means a member of the court staff;

• “defendant” means a person against whom a claim is made;

• [F13 “defendant’s home court” means—

  (a)

  [F14 if a claim is proceeding in the County Court, the County Court hearing centre serving the address where the defendant resides or carries on business; and]

  (b)

  if the claim is proceeding in the High Court, the district registry for the district in which the defendant resides or carries on business or, where there is no such district registry, the Royal Courts of Justice;]

  ([F15 Rule 6.23] provides for a party to give an address for service)

• F16 ...

• “filing”, in relation to a document, means delivering it, by post or otherwise, to the court office;

• “judge” means, unless the context otherwise requires, a judge, Master or [F1 District Judge] or a person authorised to act as such;

• [F17 ‘judge of the County Court’ has the meaning given in section 5 of the County Courts Act 1984;]

• “jurisdiction” means, unless the context otherwise requires, England and Wales and any part of the territorial waters of the United Kingdom adjoining England and Wales;

• [F18 “justices’ legal adviser” means a person nominated by the Lord Chancellor who is authorised to exercise functions under section 28(1) of the Courts Act 2003;]

• [F19 “legal representative” means a—

  (a)

  barrister;

  (b)

  solicitor;

  (c)

  solicitor’s employee;

  (d)

  manager of a body recognised under section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985; or

  (e)

  person who, for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007, is an authorised person in relation to an activity which constitutes the conduct of litigation (within the meaning of that Act),

  who has been instructed to act for a party in relation to proceedings;]

• “litigation friend” has the meaning given by Part 21;

• [F20 ‘preferred hearing centre’ means, if the claim is proceeding in the County Court, the County Court hearing centre the claimant has specified in practice form N1 as the hearing centre to which the proceedings should be sent if necessary;]

• “[F21 protected party]” has the meaning given by rule 21.1(2);

• “RSC” is to be interpreted in accordance with Part 50;

• “statement of case”—

  (a)

  means a claim form, particulars of claim where these are not included in a claim form, defence, Part 20 claim, or reply to defence; and

  (b)

  includes any further information given in relation to them voluntarily or by court order under rule 18.1;

• “statement of value” is to be interpreted in accordance with rule 16.3;

• “summary judgment” is to be interpreted in accordance with Part 24.

(2) A reference to a “specialist list” is a reference to a list^(GL)that has been designated as such by a [F22 rule or] practice direction.

(3) Where the context requires, a reference to “the court” means a reference to [F23 the County Court], a [F24 District Registry], or the Royal Courts of Justice.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Rules substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 4(a)(iv); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F12 Words in rule 2.3(1) inserted (1.10.2004) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2004 (S.I. 2004/2072), rules 1(b), 3

F13 Words in rule 2.3(1) substituted (2.10.2000) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2000 (S.I. 2000/2092), rules 1, 3

F14 Words in rule 2.3(1) substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(a)(i); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F15 Words in rule 2.3(1) substituted (1.10.2008) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2178), rules 1(2), 3

F16 Words in rule 2.3 omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(a)(ii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F17 Words in rule 2.3 inserted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(a)(iii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F18 Words in rule 2.3(1) inserted (6.4.2020) by The Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Act 2018 (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provision) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/100), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 5(2) (with reg. 4)

F19 Words in rule 2.3(1) substituted (1.2.2010) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/3390), rules 1(3), 3(a)

F20 Words in rule 2.3 substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(a)(iv); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F21 Words in rule 2.3(1) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2007 (S.I. 2007/2204), rules 1, 3(b)

F22 Words in rule 2.3(2) substituted (25.3.2002) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 5) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/4015), rules 1(c), 3

F23 Words in rule 2.3(3) substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(a)(v)(aa); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F24 Words in rule 2.3(3) substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(a)(v)(bb); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

Commencement Information

I3 Rule 2.3 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Power of judge, Master or [F1 District Judge] to perform functions of the court E+W

2.4  Where these Rules provide for the court to perform any act then, except where an enactment, rule or practice direction provides otherwise, that act may be performed—

(a) in relation to proceedings in the High Court, by any judge, Master [F25 , Registrar in Bankruptcy] or [F1 District Judge] of that Court; and

(b) in relation to proceedings in [F26 the County Court], by any judge [F27 of the County Court].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Rules substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 4(a)(iv); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F25 Words in rule 2.4(a) inserted (3.10.2016) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/788), rules 2, 5

F26 Words in Rules substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 4(a)(i); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

F27 Words in rule 2.4(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/407), rules 2(1), 5(b); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(a)

Commencement Information

I4 Rule 2.4 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

[F28 Jurisdiction of the County Court exercisable by a legal adviser E+W

2.4A.   A legal adviser, defined in paragraph 1.2(b) of Practice Direction 2E, may exercise the jurisdiction of the County Court specified in, and subject to, that Practice Direction.]

Textual Amendments

F28 Rule 2.4A inserted (7.5.2018) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/479), rules 1(1), 3(b)

Court staff E+W

2.5—(1) Where these Rules require or permit the court to perform an act of a formal or administrative character, that act may be performed by a court officer.

(2) A requirement that a court officer carry out any act at the request of a party is subject to the payment of any fee required by a Fees Order for the carrying out of that act.

(Rule 3.2 allows a court officer to refer to a judge before taking any step)

Commencement Information

I5 Rule 2.5 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Court documents to be sealed E+W

2.6—(1) The court must seal^(GL) the following documents on issue—

(a) the claim form; and

(b) any other document which a rule or practice direction requires it to seal.

(2) The court may place the seal^(GL) on the document—

(a) by hand; or

(b) by printing a facsimile of the seal on the document whether electronically or otherwise.

(3) A document purporting to bear the court’s seal^(GL) shall be admissible in evidence without further proof.

Commencement Information

I6 Rule 2.6 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Court’s discretion as to where it deals with cases E+W

2.7  The court may deal with a case at any place that it considers appropriate.

Commencement Information

I7 Rule 2.7 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Time E+W

2.8—(1) This rule shows how to calculate any period of time for doing any act which is specified—

(a) by these Rules;

(b) by a practice direction; or

(c) by a judgment or order of the court.

(2) A period of time expressed as a number of days shall be computed as clear days.

(3) In this rule “clear days” means that in computing the number of days—

(a) the day on which the period begins; and

(b) if the end of the period is defined by reference to an event, the day on which that event occurs,

are not included.

Examples

(i) Notice of an application must be served at least 3 days before the hearing.

• An application is to be heard on Friday 20 October.

• The last date for service is Monday 16 October.

(ii) The court is to fix a date for a hearing.

• The hearing must be at least 28 days after the date of notice.

• If the court gives notice of the date of the hearing on 1 October, the earliest date for the hearing is 30 October.

(iii) Particulars of claim must be served within 14 days of service of the claim form.

• The claim form is served on 2 October.

• The last day for service of the particulars of claim is 16 October.

(4) Where the specified period—

(a) is 5 days or less; and

(b) includes—

(i) a Saturday or Sunday; or

(ii) a Bank Holiday, Christmas Day or Good Friday,

that day does not count.

Example

• Notice of an application must be served at least 3 days before the hearing.

• An application is to be heard on Monday 20 October.

• The last date for service is Tuesday 14 October.

(5) [F29 Subject to the provisions of Practice Direction 5C, when the period specified—]

(a) by these Rules or a practice direction; or

(b) by any judgment or court order,

for doing any act at the court office ends on a day on which the office is closed, that act shall be in time if done on the next day on which the court office is open.

Textual Amendments

F29 Words in rule 2.8(5) substituted (1.4.2010) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/3390), rules 1(5), 3(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Rule 2.8 applied (7.10.2001) by The Railway Administration Order Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/3352), rules 1.1, 9.8(1)

C2 Rule 2.8 applied (1.11.2009) by The Water Industry (Special Administration) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2477), rules 2, 121(1)

C3 Rule 2.8 applied (30.6.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2011 (S.I. 2011/1301), rules 2, 324(1) (with rule 5)

C4 Rule 2.8 applied (31.1.2014) by The Postal Administration Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/3208), rules 1, 199(1) (with rules 3, 210)

C5 Rule 2.8 applied in part (6.4.2017) by The Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/1024), rule 1, Sch. 5 para. 1 (with rule 3(3), Sch. 2)

C6 Rule 2.8 applied in part (5.7.2018) by The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/719), rules 1.1, 7.1(1) (with rule 1.2)

C7 Rule 2.8 applied in part (31.1.2019) by The Education Administration Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/1135), rules 1, 7.1(1) (with rule 1.2)

C8 Rule 2.8 applied in part (1.8.2020) by The Smart Meter Communication Licensee Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2020 (S.I. 2020/629), rules 1, 193(1) (with rules 4(1), 193(2))

Commencement Information

I8 Rule 2.8 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Dates for compliance to be calendar dates and to include time of day E+W

2.9—(1) Where the court gives a judgment, order or direction which imposes a time limit for doing any act, the last date for compliance must, wherever practicable—

(a) be expressed as a calendar date; and

(b) include the time of day by which the act must be done.

(2) Where the date by which an act must be done is inserted in any document, the date must, wherever practicable, be expressed as a calendar date.

Commencement Information

I9 Rule 2.9 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Meaning of “month” in judgments, etc. E+W

2.10  Where “month” occurs in any judgment, order, direction or other document, it means a calendar month.

Commencement Information

I10 Rule 2.10 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

Time limits may be varied by parties E+W

2.11  Unless these Rules or a practice direction provide otherwise or the court orders otherwise, the time specified by a rule or by the court for a person to do any act may be varied by the written agreement of the parties.

(Rules 3.8 (sanctions have effect unless defaulting party obtains relief), 28.4 (variation of case management timetable—fast track) and 29.5 (variation of case management timetable—multi-track) provide for time limits that cannot be varied by agreement between the parties)

Commencement Information

I11 Rule 2.11 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature

(1)

1986 c. 45.

(2)

1981 c. 54.

(3)

1894 c. 39.