Consultation on Court Fees 2026-2029

Overview

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to court fees, including annual increases.

Court fees are an important part of the overall funding model for the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS).  NICTS aims to achieve full cost recovery in respect of civil and family court services from the fees charged, however the cost recovery rate is currently less than 80%.  NICTS must work to ensure that it continues to maintain an adequate stream of income by keeping pace with increased costs, thereby minimising the cost of courts to the taxpayer. 

It is estimated that the proposed changes would generate additional recurring income of £2.3 million per annum by 2028-29 and enable NICTS to continue to strive towards a position of full cost recovery in the provision of civil and family court business.

Existing access to justice safeguards will remain in place. This will continue to ensure that court users on a low income or, in receipt of certain benefits, pay a reduced court fee or have their fee waived.

NICTS is seeking views and comments on the proposals and measures detailed in this consultation, alongside the associated Impact Assessments.  Have your say by responding to the consultation, either online or using the Consultation Response Form which can be found on our website and submitted to us via email or post.

Why your views matter

Public consultation is an important part of the policy design process to ensure that the views and opinions of those who use the Northern Ireland court system can be taken into account when deciding on the agreed approach to court fees for the coming years.

What happens next

Following the consultation period, NICTS will collate and analyze the responses received which will help inform the agreed approach to court fees for the period 2026-2029. 

We will aim to publish a summary of responses to the consultation and the proposed way forward on the NICTS website in Autumn 2025.  Please note that responses will not be attributed to organisations or individuals, however a list of respondents will be published within the consultation response report.