Our Personal Litigants Guide found here should be your first port of call. It provides information on court rules and procedure as well as a helpful glossary of legal terms.
NICTS staff are ready to help you in whatever way they can, however please understand that resources and the time available to staff are limited. A list of what NICTS staff can and cannot do can be found here.
Bankruptcy
For information on bankruptcy proceedings can be found using the link below:
Bankruptcy: https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/bankruptcy-1
Family Court Forms
All forms used in our Family Courts can be found using the link below:
Family forms: https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/family-forms
Legislation
For specific legislation or practice directions issued by the Judiciary NI you can use the below links:
- Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/
- Practice Decisions: https://www.judiciary-ni.gov.uk/judicial-decisions
- Court Rules: https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/nicts-court-rules
Probate
Here you will find information to some of the key information sources & forms needed during the preparation of documents for probate business in Northern Ireland. Use this link to view all available information.
Fees
For a list of court fees you can use the link below:
Other Contacts
The Insolvency Service of Northern Ireland is responsible for the administration and investigation of bankruptcy and companies in liquidation, disqualification of directors, regulating the insolvency profession as well as NI-specific legislation and policy.
You can find out more about their services here.
Litigants in Person Reference Group
The Litigants in Person reference group was set up to identify ways to improve the experience of personal litigants in the courts system of Northern Ireland. It will focus primarily, but not exclusively on family courts and will examine two main areas:
- Information and support
- Relationships with others in the justice system
In September 2018 the School of Law at Ulster University in partnership with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission published a research report which highlighted challenges faced by litigants in person involved in civil or family courts.
Following the report's publication, the Department of Justice in consultation with Ulster University and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, established a Litigants in Person Reference Group, with a view to identifying ways to improve the experience of personal litigants in the court system.
The Group is comprised of past or current litigants in person (up to eight at present) and one person nominated from each of the following organisations or sectors - Department of Justice, NICTS, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, School of Law, Ulster University, Voluntary sector, a practising solicitor, a practising barrister, and a member of the Judiciary.
The Reference Group meets quarterly. At its first meeting (held in February 2019) it was agreed that a Progress Report summarising key decisions and the activities of the Reference Group should be published following each meeting, together with the Group’s Terms of Reference. These can be viewed using this link.