Small Claims Court - Getting Trial Ready}

As soon as you receive notice of the small claims court trial date you need to make sure that it is a date that you and any witnesses you may have can attend.  If it is not, or circumstances change meaning you are in difficulties attending, write to the other side and the court explaining the problem, asking for the date to be moved and giving any dates you or your witnesses need to avoid over the next 4 months.  When writing to the other side you should ask them to confirm to the Court as soon as possible whether they agree to move the trial date and giving their own dates to avoid for the next 4 months.

Make sure you comply with any directions given.  If there are problems complying you need to advise the other side as soon as possible, explaining the problem and asking them to agree a later date. If the delay will mean the case is not ready for trial or they do not agree you must write to the Court asking for the directions to be varied.

In either case the court may write back asking you to pay a fee and/or complete a specific form.  You should comply with any request as soon as possible.

At least 7 days before the trial you should sit down and think the case through.  Consider how you wish to put your case, how the other side are likely to put their case and what documents you will need to deal with this. If any of those documents are not in the documents disclosed by either side you should send copies to the Court and the other side immediately.  Late service is always better than turning up on the day and seeking to rely on a document never seen before.

Finally, prepare at least 3 bundles of the documents you intend to rely on.  Put an index at the front and paginate them. Hold them together in a file, with a staple or using a treasury tag.

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