How do I fill in an Application Notice N244?

What is an Application Notice and when is it used?

An Application Notice is a document in which the person completing the document (the applicant) states their intention to seek a court order. An Application Notice is required in most instances where a party wishes the court to make an order.

Ordinarily, the party seeking the court order will make the application by completing form N244, which can be obtained from the court or found on the Court Service’s website.

How do I complete form N244?

Preliminary matters

At the top right hand side of the form the name of the appropriate court should be stated. The general rule is that an application should be made in the court in which the claim is proceeding. This may not be the same court in which the proceedings were commenced.

The claim number should also be stated. The claim number can be found at the top right hand side of the claim form. Any warrant number should also be stated. There will only be a warrant number if enforcement action has been commenced.

The names of the parties should also be stated, together with their reference details, where appropriate. The application notice should be dated.

Section 1

At Section 1 the name of the person making the application should be stated. If the application is being made by a solicitor, the name of the solicitor’s firm should be stated.

Section 2

At Section 2 the applicant should confirm the capacity in which they are making the application by ticking the appropriate box.

Section 3

At Section 3 the applicant should state what order they are asking the court to make and why. The appropriate wording to be used at this Section will depend upon the nature of the order sought.

Generally, it is considered to be good practice to specify the provision of the civil procedure rules under which the application is being made. For example, if the applicant is seeking an order for summary judgement, appropriate wording may be “the applicant seeks an order for summary judgement pursuant to Pt 24 of the Civil Procedure Rules on the ground that the defendant has no real prospect of successfully defending the claim or issue and there is no other compelling reason why the case or issue should be disposed of at a trial”.

Section 4

At Section 4 the applicant should confirm whether they have attached a draft order to the application by ticking the appropriate box. A draft order should be attached unless it is a very straightforward application.

Section 5

At Section 5 the applicant should confirm how they wish the application to be dealt with by ticking the appropriate box. Applications can be at a hearing, without a hearing or via a telephone hearing.

A court can deal with an application without a hearing if: the parties agree to the terms of the order sought; if the parties agree that a hearing is not necessary; or the court takes the view that a hearing would not be appropriate.

Where the applicant requests that the application be dealt with without a hearing, the court may still list the matter for a hearing if it considers it necessary.

A telephone hearing will not be listed if the application is being made without notice to the other party, if all of the parties are unrepresented or if more than four persons wish to make representations at the hearing.

Section 6

If the applicant does not know how long the hearing will take they should not guess but leave these boxes blank.

Section 7

If the case has been listed for trial or a “trial window” has been allocated, at Section 7 the applicant should state the trial date or give details of the trial window.

Section 8

If the case is being heard in the High Court or a District Registry, the applicant should indicate whether it is to be dealt with by a master, district judge or judge.

Section 9

At Section 9, the applicant must state who the application should be served upon. The general rule is that the application should be served upon the respondent to the application. The respondent is the person against whom the order is sought.

Section 10

At Section 10 the applicant is required to indicate what information it will be relying on, in support of the application by ticking one or more box. An applicant can rely upon information contained in a witness statement, contained in a “statement of case” (for example, the particulars of claim or defence), or written set out on the form itself.

Where an applicant relies upon information set out on form N244 they should verify the information by signing the “statement of truth” and providing their details.

Section 11

At Section 11 the applicant must sign and date the application, confirm their status if signing on behalf of a firm or company, and provide their contact details.

About the Author

Nicola Laver LLB

Nicola is a dual qualified journalist and non-practising solicitor. She is a legal journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years' experience writing about the law.

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