How to Start a Money Claim in 2026: OCMC Replaces N1

How to Start a Money Claim in 2026: OCMC Has Replaced Form N1 — Here’s What You Need to Know

If you are owed money and want to take someone to court in England and Wales, the process has changed significantly. Since 28 July 2025, eligible money claims must be issued online through the Online Civil Money Claims (OCMC) service or Money Claim Online (MCOL). If you send a paper Form N1 to the court for a claim that qualifies for online issue, it will be returned to you unprocessed. This is a major shift for anyone who has previously issued proceedings the traditional way. But it is also, on balance, a considerable improvement — particularly for self-represented litigants. This guide explains what has changed, how the new system works, when you still need a paper N1, and how to navigate the OCMC process from start to finish.

What Has Changed? The End of Paper N1 for Most Money Claims

Form N1 has been the standard claim form for civil proceedings in England and Wales for decades. You would download it from the HMCTS website, complete it by hand or on screen, print it, and post it to the relevant county court with your court fee. The court would then issue the claim and serve it on the defendant. That process is now effectively over for the majority of money claims. The Civil Procedure Rules were amended to require that claims falling within the scope of the OCMC pilot must be commenced online. The OCMC pilot, which originally launched with a claim limit of £10,000, was extended to cover claims up to £25,000 from October 2024. The pilot is currently authorised to run until 1 April 2027. In practical terms, this means:

• If your money claim is for a specified amount of £25,000 or less, you are required to issue it online through OCMC (or MCOL for simpler claims).
• If you attempt to file a paper N1 for an eligible claim, the County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC) in Salford will return your form and direct you to the online service.
• OCMC generates a document called an OCON1, which replaces the traditional N1 format. It contains all the same essential information but is structured differently.

Why OCMC Is Actually Better for Self-Represented Litigants

The shift to online claims has been met with some resistance, particularly from people who are not confident with technology. But for litigants in person, OCMC solves several chronic problems that plagued the paper N1 process.

The Service Problem Is Largely Eliminated

Under the old paper system, serving a claim form was one of the most common points of failure. The court would post the claim to the defendant’s address, and service was deemed to have occurred on the second business day after posting under CPR 6.14 — regardless of whether the defendant actually received it. If you had the wrong address, the claim was served into thin air. If the defendant had moved, you might not discover this until months later when no defence was filed and you applied for judgment. Worse still, the claim form had to be served within four months of issue (CPR 7.5). If it was returned undelivered and you needed to re-serve at a new address, you could easily run out of time. Extending the four-month period required a separate application, with associated fees and delay. OCMC changes this fundamentally. Claims are served electronically. Defendants who are individuals receive a notification pack directing them to respond online. Companies and organisations receive electronic service. The result is that defendants are notified faster, and the ambiguity around deemed service dates is significantly reduced.

Built-In Guidance Reduces Errors

The OCMC system walks you through each step of the claim. It prompts you for the information the court needs, in the order it needs it. This is a significant advantage over Form N1, which provided a blank box for your “Particulars of Claim” with minimal guidance on what to include or how to structure it.

Court Fee Calculation Is Automatic

Under the paper system, many litigants in person submitted N1 forms with the wrong court fee — either too little (claim returned) or too much (refund headache). OCMC calculates the fee automatically based on your claim amount.

Faster Processing

Paper N1 forms sent to the CCMCC could take weeks to be processed and issued, particularly during busy periods. OCMC claims are typically issued within 24 to 48 hours of submission.

When You Still Need a Paper Form N1

Not every claim can be issued through OCMC. You will still need to use a paper N1 in the following situations:

• Claims above £25,000 — the OCMC limit is currently £25,000 for specified amounts
• Unspecified claims — if you cannot state a precise monetary figure (e.g., claims for “damages to be assessed”), OCMC cannot handle these
• Claims involving protected parties — if the claimant or defendant is a child (under 18) or a protected party (someone who lacks mental capacity), the claim must be issued on paper with a litigation friend
• Non-money claims — claims for injunctions, specific performance, declarations, or other non-monetary remedies are outside the scope of OCMC
• Claims against the Crown — proceedings against government departments under the Crown Proceedings Act 1947
• Claims by vexatious litigants — anyone subject to a civil restraint order or general civil restraint order may need permission before issuing
• Multiple claimants or defendants exceeding OCMC limits — there are practical limits on the number of parties OCMC can accommodate

If your claim falls into any of these categories, you should obtain Form N1 from the HMCTS forms finder and submit it to the appropriate court.

Step-by-Step Guide: Starting a Claim on OCMC

Here is what the process looks like from beginning to end.

Step 1: Create a Government Gateway Account

You will need a Government Gateway account to access OCMC. If you do not already have one, you can create it as part of the sign-up process. You will need an email address and a way to verify your identity.

Step 2: Access the OCMC Service

Navigate to the Online Civil Money Claims service at gov.uk/make-money-claim. You will be asked whether you are making a claim for a specified amount of money. If yes, and it is £25,000 or under, you will be directed into the OCMC process.

Step 3: Enter Your Details (the Claimant)

Provide your full name, address, contact details, and date of birth. If you are claiming as a business or sole trader, you will enter the trading name and registered address. Accuracy here is essential — errors in your own details can cause problems later if the defendant challenges the claim.

Step 4: Enter the Defendant’s Details

You need the defendant’s name and address. For individuals, use their full legal name. For companies, use the registered company name and registered office address (you can find this on Companies House). Getting the defendant’s name wrong is one of the most common reasons claims fail, so check this carefully.

Step 5: Enter the Claim Amount

Specify the amount you are claiming. OCMC will prompt you to break this down into the principal debt, any contractual or statutory interest, and court fees. The system will calculate the total and the appropriate court fee.

Step 6: Write Your Statement of Case (Particulars of Claim)

This is the most important part of your claim. Your statement of case must set out:

• The facts giving rise to your claim — what happened, when, and between whom
• The legal basis for your claim — breach of contract, debt, negligence, or other cause of action
• The loss you have suffered and how it is calculated
• Any interest you are claiming and the statutory or contractual basis for it

OCMC provides a text box with a character limit. You should draft your particulars in a word processor first, ensuring they are clear, concise, and contain all the necessary elements. If your case is complex, you may wish to attach a separate document — OCMC allows you to upload additional files.

Step 7: Review and Pay

Before submission, OCMC will show you a summary of the entire claim. Review every detail carefully. Once you submit and pay the court fee (by debit or credit card), the claim is issued. You will receive a claim number and confirmation.

Step 8: Wait for the Defendant to Respond

The defendant has 14 days from service to respond (or 28 days if they file an acknowledgment of service). They can admit the claim, defend it, or make a counterclaim. If they do nothing, you can apply for default judgment.

Understanding the OCON1 Document

When your claim is issued through OCMC, the system generates a document called the OCON1. This is the OCMC equivalent of the traditional N1 claim form, but it looks different. The OCON1 contains all the same essential information — parties, claim amount, particulars of claim, statement of truth — but is formatted as a system-generated document rather than a fillable PDF form. You may encounter the OCON1 if you need to refer to your claim form at a later stage, such as during case management or at trial. It serves the same legal purpose as an N1 — it is the document that commenced your proceedings.

Court Fees for OCMC Claims

Court fees for money claims are based on the amount you are claiming. As of 2026, the standard fees are:

• Claims up to £300: £35
• Claims £300.01 to £500: £50
• Claims £500.01 to £1,000: £70
• Claims £1,000.01 to £1,500: £80
• Claims £1,500.01 to £3,000: £115
• Claims £3,000.01 to £5,000: £205
• Claims £5,000.01 to £10,000: £455
• Claims £10,000.01 to £25,000: 5% of the claim value

If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for fee remission. You can apply using Form EX160A either before or during the online claim process. Do not let court fees prevent you from pursuing a legitimate claim — check your eligibility for help with fees first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use Money Claim Online (MCOL) instead of OCMC?

Yes, MCOL is still available for straightforward money claims up to £100,000 as of early 2026. However, MCOL is an older system with fewer features. OCMC offers a more guided experience and handles the post-issue stages (directions, mediation, allocation) more seamlessly. For most new claims, OCMC is the better option.

What happens if I send a paper N1 for a claim that should go through OCMC?

The CCMCC will return your form unprocessed with a letter directing you to the online service. You will not lose your court fee (as you would have paid by cheque, which will be returned), but you will lose time. If limitation is approaching, this delay could be critical.

Can I claim interest through OCMC?

Yes. You can claim statutory interest at 8% per annum under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 (for business-to-business debts) or under Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984. OCMC allows you to specify the interest rate, the date interest started accruing, and the daily rate.

What if my claim is for more than £25,000?

Claims above £25,000 for specified amounts, and all unspecified claims, must still be issued on paper using Form N1. These are filed at the CCMCC in Salford or at the relevant County Court hearing centre.

How long does it take for an OCMC claim to be issued?

Most OCMC claims are issued within one to two working days of submission and payment. This is significantly faster than the paper process, which could take two to four weeks during busy periods.

Do I still need to serve the claim myself?

No. When you issue through OCMC, the court handles service electronically. This is one of the major advantages of the system — it removes the burden and risk of personal service from the claimant.

What if the defendant does not respond to my OCMC claim?

If the defendant fails to file a defence or acknowledgment of service within the time allowed, you can apply for default judgment. For specified amount claims issued through OCMC, you may be able to request this directly through the online system. For more detail, see our guide to Form N225 and default judgment.

Is there a deadline for the OCMC pilot?

The OCMC pilot is currently authorised until 1 April 2027. It is widely expected to be extended or made permanent, given the scale of investment and the direction of HMCTS reform. However, if you are reading this after April 2027, check the current position on the HMCTS website. This guide was last updated in February 2026 and reflects the law and procedure in England and Wales. Court rules can change — always verify current procedures on the HMCTS website.

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From £3. Step-by-step OCMC money claim guidance.

Related Guides

• Form N225: How to Get Default Judgment — what to do when the defendant does not respond
• Form N244: Application Notice Guide — for applications within your OCMC claim
• Help with Fees Online — if you are on a low income, you may not have to pay court fees
• How to Enforce a County Court Judgment — your options after obtaining judgment
• Do You Have a Claim? — evaluate your case before going to court