Draft it
Tell Chris what you’ve been claimed for and your side of the story. Chris drafts your acknowledgment, admission, defence or counterclaim to elite-counsel standard, mapped to the Civil Procedure Rules.
Check your draft
Already started a defence? Paste it in. Chris pressure-tests it against the particulars of claim, flags admissions you may not realise you’re making, and tightens every paragraph.
You’ve been served — respond
Work out which N9 sub-form fits your situation and by when. Chris helps you choose the right route, count the deadline from deemed service, and respond in time to stop a default judgment.
What Form N9 is
Form N9 is the standard “response pack” that the County Court sends to a defendant together with the claim form (and, usually, the particulars of claim). It is your formal channel for replying to a money claim. The pack is not a single document but a small family of forms, and which one you complete depends on two things: whether the claim is for a specified amount (a fixed, exact sum, such as an unpaid invoice) or an unspecified amount (a sum to be assessed by the court, such as damages), and what you want to do — accept it, contest it, or bring your own claim back against the claimant.
The response pack typically contains:
- Form N9 — the Acknowledgment of Service itself, used to confirm you have received the claim and that you intend to defend (in whole or in part), or to dispute the court’s jurisdiction.
- Form N9A — Admission for a specified amount.
- Form N9B — Defence and Counterclaim for a specified amount.
- Form N9C — Admission for an unspecified amount.
- Form N9D — Defence and Counterclaim for an unspecified amount.
Always use the exact forms enclosed in your own pack, because they are pre-printed with your claim number and the issuing court. If a claim was started online, you may be able to respond online instead, but the same choices and deadlines apply.
The deadline: why the clock matters more than anything
The single most important thing to understand about a county court claim is that time runs from the date of deemed service, not the date you happened to open the envelope. The claim form is treated as served on a date fixed by the rules, and your deadline is counted from that deemed-service date.
You have two distinct windows, both set by the Civil Procedure Rules:
- To respond at all — you must file a defence, an admission, or an acknowledgment of service within the period stated on the claim form, counted from deemed service. This is commonly cited as 14 days, but you must check the current deadline shown on your own claim form and in CPR Part 9 / Part 15 before you rely on any figure.
- To file a defence after acknowledging — if you file the Acknowledgment of Service (Form N9) in time, you gain a longer total period to file your full defence, counted from service of the particulars of claim. This is commonly cited as 28 days, but again, check the current deadline in CPR Part 15.
The acknowledgment is, in effect, a way of buying breathing space: it tells the court you intend to defend without yet committing your full argument to paper, and it extends the time you have to draft a proper defence. If you can defend within the shorter first window, you do not strictly need to acknowledge at all — but acknowledging is the safer route when you need more time.
The parties can also agree an extension of time for the defence between themselves under CPR 15.5, up to a limit set by the rules. If you reach such an agreement, get it in writing and tell the court. Check the current cap before assuming how long an agreed extension can be.
The fork: which N9 sub-form do you need?
Once you know the claim has been served and you have noted your deadline, the decision is structured. Use the table below to map your situation to the right form. Treat the “deadline” column as a prompt to check your own claim form and the current CPR — not as a guaranteed figure.
| Your situation | Form to use | Deadline to respond |
|---|---|---|
| You accept you owe the full specified sum | N9A (Admission — specified amount) | Within the response period from deemed service — check the current deadline |
| You accept you owe the full unspecified sum (amount to be assessed) | N9C (Admission — unspecified amount) | Within the response period from deemed service — check the current deadline |
| You dispute a specified claim (in whole or part), and/or wish to counterclaim | N9B (Defence and Counterclaim — specified amount) | Defence due within the response period, or within the longer period if you filed N9 first — check the current deadline |
| You dispute an unspecified claim (in whole or part), and/or wish to counterclaim | N9D (Defence and Counterclaim — unspecified amount) | Defence due within the response period, or within the longer period if you filed N9 first — check the current deadline |
| You need more time before filing your full defence | N9 (Acknowledgment of Service) — then the relevant defence form | File N9 within the first response period to unlock the longer defence period — check the current deadline |
| You dispute that the court has jurisdiction | N9 (Acknowledgment of Service), ticking the jurisdiction box, followed by an application | Within the first response period — check the current deadline |
| You do nothing | None — claimant may apply for default judgment | Judgment can be entered once your time expires (CPR Part 12) |
The danger of doing nothing: default judgment
If you let your deadline pass without filing any response, the claimant is entitled to ask the court to enter judgment in default under CPR Part 12. That is a judgment against you without the merits of the claim ever being heard. It can lead to enforcement action and, where the judgment is not satisfied promptly, can be recorded against you in ways that affect your credit standing.
A default judgment is not always the end of the road — you may be able to apply to have it set aside under CPR Part 13, for example if you have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim or there is some other good reason. But setting aside is harder, slower and less certain than simply responding on time. The clean and reliable strategy is always to respond before the deadline. If you genuinely cannot defend yet but want to preserve your position, file the acknowledgment.
Completing the response, step by step
1. Read the claim form and particulars carefully
Identify the exact claim number, the issuing court, the claimant, the amount claimed, and whether the sum is specified or unspecified. The particulars of claim set out why the claimant says you owe money — your defence must answer it point by point.
2. Decide your route honestly
Admit only what is genuinely true; defend only what you can properly dispute; counterclaim only where you have your own claim against the claimant. A defence is a formal statement of case, verified by a statement of truth, so accuracy matters.
3. If you need time, file the Acknowledgment of Service (N9)
Tick whether you intend to defend all of the claim, part of it, or to contest jurisdiction. Sign and date it, and return it to the court within the first response window.
4. Draft and file your defence (and any counterclaim)
Respond to each numbered paragraph of the particulars: admit, deny, or require the claimant to prove it. Set out the facts you rely on. If you are counterclaiming, set out your own claim clearly — a counterclaim may attract a court fee, so check the current fee. Sign the statement of truth.
5. File in time and keep proof
Send your response to the court named on the claim form (or respond online if the claim was issued online), and keep a dated copy and proof of sending.
The statutory and procedural framework
Responding to a county court claim is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules:
- CPR Part 9 — the general framework for responding to particulars of claim, and the available responses.
- CPR Part 10 — the Acknowledgment of Service (Form N9) and its effect.
- CPR Part 12 — judgment in default, which the claimant can seek if you fail to respond.
- CPR Part 14 — admissions, including admitting all or part of a specified or unspecified claim.
- CPR Part 15 — defence and reply, including the time limits for filing a defence and agreed extensions.
Reading these alongside your own claim form is the surest way to confirm your deadline and your options, because the precise periods and fees can change.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting the deadline from the wrong date. Time runs from deemed service, not from when you read the letter. Work it out carefully.
- Ignoring the claim hoping it goes away. Silence invites a default judgment; it does not buy time.
- Using the wrong sub-form. A specified-amount admission (N9A) is different from an unspecified one (N9C); a defence to a specified claim (N9B) differs from one to an unspecified claim (N9D).
- Admitting more than you mean to. A vague defence that fails to deny a paragraph can be read as admitting it. Answer every point.
- Forgetting the counterclaim is its own claim. It needs to be properly pleaded and may carry a fee.
- Missing the statement of truth. An unsigned or unverified statement of case can be defective.
- Assuming acknowledging is enough. The Acknowledgment of Service only buys time — you still have to file the defence within the extended period.
Related Court Forms & Guides
- Form N9A: Admission (Specified Amount)
- Form N9B: Defence and Counterclaim
- Form N9C: Admission (Unspecified Amount)
- Form N9D: Defence and Counterclaim (Unspecified Amount)
- Form N1: Part 7 Claim Form
- How to Start a Money Claim Online (OCMC)
- Form N244: Application Notice
- Civil Court Forms Index
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file an Acknowledgment of Service?
No — it is optional. If you can file your full defence within the first, shorter response period, you do not need to acknowledge. You acknowledge when you need the longer period to prepare. Check the current deadlines for both routes before deciding.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
The claimant can apply for judgment in default under CPR Part 12, meaning judgment against you without a hearing on the merits. You may be able to apply to set it aside under CPR Part 13, but that is harder than responding on time. Act before the deadline wherever possible.
What is the difference between a specified and an unspecified claim?
A specified claim is for a fixed, exact sum (such as a precise debt). An unspecified claim is for an amount the court will assess (such as damages). The distinction decides which N9 sub-form you use: N9A/N9B for specified, N9C/N9D for unspecified.
Can I admit part of the claim and defend the rest?
Yes. You can admit the part you accept and defend the part you dispute. The defence and counterclaim forms (N9B/N9D) allow for a partial admission and partial defence. Be precise about which sums and which allegations you accept.
What is a counterclaim and is there a fee?
A counterclaim is your own claim brought back against the claimant within the same proceedings — for example, where they owe you money too. It is pleaded on the same form as your defence (N9B/N9D) and may attract a court fee. Check the current fee before filing.
Can I get more time by agreement with the claimant?
Under CPR 15.5 the parties can agree to extend the time for the defence, up to a limit set by the rules. Put any agreement in writing and notify the court. Check the current cap on agreed extensions before relying on it.
The claim was started online — does N9 still apply?
If a money claim was issued through an online service, you may be able to respond online rather than on paper, but the same choices — acknowledge, admit, defend, counterclaim — and the same deadlines apply. Use whichever route your claim documents direct you to.
Don’t let the clock run out
Tell Chris what you’ve been claimed for and what really happened. You’ll get a court-ready acknowledgment, admission, defence or counterclaim — drafted to elite-counsel standard, mapped to the right N9 sub-form and your deadline.
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eLitigant CIC (No. 16566612) — a community interest company. Not a law firm; you remain the litigant in person. eLitigant prepares court-ready documents from your own information; it does not give legal advice and no outcome is guaranteed. Always check the current form, fee and deadline before filing.