Overview of fee increases
In early April 2025, subject to parliamentary approval, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will increase 171 court and tribunal fees. These adjustments are being made to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and to help ensure the continued productivity of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
Why are fees increasing?
The revenue generated from these fee increases should help improve the service delivery of HMCTS, subsidising court and tribunal services that are free of charge and reducing the overall burden on taxpayers.
The government seeks to recover a large contribution from court and tribunal users, where they can afford it, to help cover the costs of running HMCTS. In previous years, fees were increased in line with inflation to keep up with rising operational costs, while also trying to minimise the financial burden on taxpayers.
Without these changes, the cost of running the court and tribunal system would fall more heavily on the general public. The changes that the MoJ are aiming to implement, will ensure that users of HMCTS contribute towards the maintenance of the various services being provided to them, while keeping fees reasonable and proportionate.
Details of the fee adjustments
The upcoming fee changes are likely to affect the below cases:
- The majority of the 171 fees will see a 3.2% increase, reflecting the CPI change between March 2023 and March 2024.
- A smaller number of fees will increase by 13.5%, accounting for backdated inflation to March 2022.
- All fee changes will be rounded to the nearest pound.
The additional revenue generated from these adjustments will assist in improving other aspects of the service delivery, enhance digital case management systems, and ensure the courts can continue to operate resourcefully.
Who will be affected?
These changes will impact individuals and businesses that need to engage with the court or tribunal system. Fees may increase for the below cases:
- Property and contractual disputes
- Probate and estate matters
- Employment tribunal claims
- Money disputes
Higher fees could mean increased costs for businesses, when handling contractual disputes, pursuing litigation, or recovering debts. There may also be a rise in costs when dealing with landlord-tenant disputes, or probate applications.
Possible support for those unable to pay
The Help with Fees remissions scheme is available for individuals with lower financial resources who may struggle to afford the proposed fees. This scheme provides full or partial fee waivers based on income and savings. More details on eligibility and the application process can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Fee reductions for certain services
The government also plan to reduce the value of 24 court and tribunal fees to ensure their underlying costs are accurately reflected. The purpose of certain fee reductions is to keep certain fees proportionate to the services provided.
Implementation timeline
The abovementioned fee changes are scheduled to take effect from 1 April 2025, applying to applications received by courts or tribunals on or after that date. Until then, the current fee structure will remain in place.
Next steps
For those who may be affected, it may be worthwhile to review the updated fee list and plan accordingly. If you are considering initiating legal proceedings, you may wish to submit your application before the fee increases take effect.
If you have any questions about how these changes might impact your case, please contact our team(s) for expert guidance and support.
More information can be found on the GOV website: Court and tribunal fees: updates from April 2025
