About The Petty Debts Court
The Petty Debts Court hears claims of up to £30,000. Typically, these arise from a breach of written or verbal agreement and may include for instance unpaid bills, unpaid rent, outstanding wages, child maintenance arrears, etc. The Court also hears claims for damages, such as loss of money resulting from an injury for up to £30,000. There is a time limit to bring a claim to Court, depending upon the type of claim.
The Petty Debts Court deals with residential tenancies under the Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Law 2001. Contract leases with an annual rent of less than £45,000 are dealt with by the Petty Debts Court.>
The Petty Debts Court may confirm a provisional Maintenance Order made in a Commonwealth country and make an Order for payment(s).
Approach of the Petty Debts Court
The overriding objective of the Petty Debts Court is to deal with cases justly and at proportionate costs. This means that all parties are treated equally, that all cases are dealt with in a timely manner and fairly. The Petty Debts Court’s procedures are set out in the Petty Debts Court Rules 2018 and Practice Direction 18/01.
Please note that the fees in the Practice Direction are due to be updated.
Who’s who in the Petty Debts Court
The Petty Debts Court is presided over by the Magistrate, who is the Judge of the Petty Debts Court. The Magistrate and five Relief Magistrates may also sit as Judges of the Petty Debts Court. All Magistrates have the same judicial powers.
Magistrate: Bridget Shaw
Assistant Magistrate: Adam Clarke
Relief Magistrates: David Cadin, Rebecca Morley-Kirk, David Le Cornu, Sarah Fitz, Peter Harris, Mike O’Connell and Nuno Santos-Costa.
The Petty Debts Court is assisted by the Magistrate’s Court Greffier who is the clerk to the Court. They are assisted by a team of Greffiers who carry out administrative and support functions before, during and after the Court sits.
Greffiers can provide guidance on procedure in person, by phone on +44 (0) 1534 440081 or by email at pdc@courts.je.
Appearing in the Petty Debts Court
if you are bringing a claim to the Petty Debts Court, your are referred to as the Plaintiff. If you are summoned to appear before the Petty Debts Court, you are referred to as the Defendant.
If you are summoned to appear before the Petty Debts Court as a defendant, you will have been notified of the time and date to attend. Plaintiffs will be told of the time and date to attend by the Greffier when they bring their claim. The Petty Debts Court sits every Wednesday at 10 a.m. and you should be in the Court building by 9.30 a.m. You should dress as smartly as you can and be tidy in your appearance. If you need an interpreter, please refer to Information in other languages and Interpreters.
If for some good reason you are unable to attend court, you should contact the Court immediately with evidence to justify your non-attendance, so that alternative arrangements can be made. If you do not attend and do not explain your non-attendance to the Court beforehand, a judgment may be made against you.
As you walk into the Magistrate’s Court building, on the left-hand side is the reception desk where the Ushers sit. You should report to the Usher on the desk who will note your attendance and tell you in which of the three courtrooms your case is being heard. Hearing lop facilities are available on request.
Useful links
Citizen's Advice can help you complete your forms or draft a document for the Court. They might also be able to arrange a free 30 minutes consultation with a lawyer who can advise you on the merits of your claim. Telephone +44 (0) 1534 724942 or visit www.citizensadvice.je.
Jersey Financial Services Commission can help you identify your Defendant and the registered address for their business. Telephone +44 (0) 1534 822000 or visit Jersey Financial Services Commission.