Increase in County Court Jurisdiction Limit

As of 22 April 2014, the County Court Jurisdiction Order 2014 will come into force revoking the County Courts Jurisdiction Order 1981. This will mean that jurisdiction of the value of property cases being heard in the County Courts shall be increased from £30,000 to £350,000.

Given the rise in property values since the 1980’s the ‘old’ limit has long be seen as ineffective. The increase in the limit will mean that more cases will be dealt with in the County Courts, freeing up time in the High Court for high value and complex issues of law.

This is not necessarily a welcomed changed for Claimants. Whilst the High Court will now get more time for more complex and high value cases there is a risk that as a result of the lack of specialist judiciary and resources it may simply exacerbate the problems we already face with full, busy, understaffed and under-resourced county courts.