Proposals for further reforms to court fees

In Part 1 of the government response to the consultation Court fees: proposals for reform, we set out our decision to consider alternatives to the proposed fee increase for divorce.

However, whilst we have decided not to proceed with the divorce proposal, this has not changed the financial imperative to increase income to the courts from fees. Therefore, the government response also seeks views on proposals to increase:

• the fees to commence applications for the recovery of land (possession claims);
• the fees for general applications in civil proceedings.

The proposed increases would all involve prescribing fees in excess of cost and would therefore be made using the power at section 180 of the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The further proposals for raising fee income to make good the financial shortfall are simple and straightforward measures to address financial pressures. They will therefore be subject to a short, focussed, four -week consultation period which will close on 27 February 2015.

The government will consider the responses set out how we intend to proceed when we publish the government response.