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This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2026 No. 37

Magistrates’ Courts

The Magistrates’ Courts Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Made

3rd March 2026

Coming into operation

1st April 2026

The Department of Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 116(1) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978(1) and now vested in it(2), makes the following Order with the concurrence of the Department of Finance(3).

The Department has, in accordance with section 116(1) of that Act, consulted with the Lady Chief Justice.

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Magistrates’ Courts Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2026.

Amendment of the Magistrates’ Courts Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

1. The Magistrates’ Courts Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996(4) is amended as follows.

2. For Schedules 1 and 2 substitute the new Schedules 1 and 2 set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 3rd March 2026

Naomi Long

Minister of Justice

The Department of Finance concurs in the making of this Order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance 3rd March 2026

John O’Dowd

Minister of Finance

Article 3

SCHEDULE

Article 4

“ SCHEDULE 1

Court Fees

| A. In proceedings to which Part VI of the Order applies | | | | | |
| --- | | | | | |
| Debt Proceedings | | | Fee | | |
| | | | As from 01/04/26 | As from 01/04/27 | As from 01/04/28 |
| 1. | Process (ordinary, enforcement or committal) | | £49.00 | £50.00 | £51.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 2. | Set-off, counterclaim, decree (including an order made on application under Part VIII of the Judgments Enforcement (Northern Ireland) Order 1981) or dismiss | | £33.00 | £34.00 | £35.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Ejectment Proceedings | | | | | |
| 3. | Process (including proceedings where a claim for rent or sum due under Article 69 of the Order is joined with a claim for possession) | | £49.00 | £50.00 | £51.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 4. | Decree or dismiss | | £33.00 | £34.00 | £35.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Duplicate Orders and Extracts from Register | | | | | |
| 5. | Notice for duplicate orders | | £49.00 | £50.00 | £51.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 6. | Duplicate order | | £49.00 | £50.00 | £51.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 7. | Certified extract from register | | £49.00 | £50.00 | £51.00 |
| | | | | | |
| B. In proceedings to which Part VII of the Order applies | | | | | |
| 8. | Notice of application or notice of appeal to a magistrates’ court | | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| C. Appeals and case stated | | | | | |
| 9. | Copy notice of appeal lodged with Clerk of Petty Sessions or process in relation to civil proceedings | | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 10. | Copy notice of appeal lodged with Clerk of Petty Sessions for a complaint, application, appeal or process (except where appellant in prison or in respect of civil proceedings) | | £49.00

Subject to a maximum fee of £245.00 | £50.00

Subject to a maximum fee of £250.00 | £51.00

Subject to a maximum fee of £255.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 11. | Written application for case stated | | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 12. | Case stated | | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| D. Notices of application under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 | | | | | |
| 13. | (a) | Application for renewal under Article 14 | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (b) | Application for protection order under Article 26 | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | (c) | Application for temporary continuance of business in other premises under Article 29 | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | (d) | Application for transfer under Article 22 | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (e) | Application for transfer and renewal under Article 23 | £884.00 | £902.00 | £920.00 |
| | (f) | Application for order for alternative permitted hours under Article 43 | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (g) | Application for order for additional permitted hours under Article 44 | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (h) | Application for order for further additional permitted hours under Article 44A | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (i) | Application under Article 44B(1) for revocation or modification of an order made under Article 44A | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (j) | Application for order under Article 48 (suitability of certain premises for functions) | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (k) | Application for order under Article 52E (Local producer’s premises: suitability for on sales) | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | (l) | Application for order under Article 52F (Local producer’s premises: authorisation for on-sales) | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | (m) | Application for order under Article 58A (suitability of certain premises for underage functions) | £257.00 | £262.00 | £267.00 |
| | (n) | Application for an authorisation under Article 58B (authorisations for underage functions) | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | (o) | Additional fee for an application for renewal

out of time under Article 16 for each month or part of a month | £184.00 | £188.00 | £192.00 |
| | (p) | Application for the grant of each occasional licence under Article 30— | | | |
| | | (i) for the first day | £134.00 | £137.00 | £140.00 |
| | | (ii) for each additional day | £33.00 | £34.00 | £35.00 |
| | (q) | Application for grant of an extension licence under Article 47 | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | (r) | Application with respect to a licence for an indoor arena or outdoor stadia under Article 77A | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 14. | (a) | For each inspection of the register of licences as provided for under Article 35 | £36.00 | £37.00 | £38.00 |
| | (b) | For each copy of all or any part of any entry taken from the register of licences as provided for under Article 35 - in respect of each licensed premises | £17.00 | £17.00 | £17.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 15. | | A duplicate licence, being a certified copy of particulars recorded in the register of licences, issued under Article 38(2) | £244.00 | £249.00 | £254.00 |
| | | | | | |
| E. Applications under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 | | | | | |
| Bookmakers’ Licences and Bookmaking Office Licences | | | | | |
| 16. | | A notice of application for the grant of a bookmaker’s licence under Article 8(1) | £419.00 | £427.00 | £436.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 17. | | A notice of application for renewal of a bookmaker’s licence under Article 16(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 18. | | A notice of application for renewal out of time of a bookmaker’s licence under Article 20(1) | £486.00 | £496.00 | £506.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 19. | | A notice of application for renewal of a bookmaking office licence under Article 18(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 20. | | A notice of application for renewal out of time of a bookmaking office licence under Article 20(1) | £486.00 | £496.00 | £506.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 21. | | A notice of application for transfer of a bookmaking office licence under Article 23(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 22. | | A notice of application for concurrent transfer and renewal of a bookmaking office licence under Article 24(1) | £570.00 | £581.00 | £593.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 23. | | Application for temporary continuance of business in other premises under Article 26 | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 24. | | A notice of application for revocation of a bookmaker’s licence under Article 27(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 25. | | A notice of application for revocation of a bookmaking office licence under Article 28(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Bingo Club Licences | | | | | |
| 26. | | A notice of application for the grant of a bingo club licence under Article 63(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 27. | | A notice of application for the provisional grant of a bingo club licence under Article 65(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 28. | | A notice of application for the renewal of a bingo club licence under Article 67(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 29. | | A notice of application for the renewal out of time of a bingo club licence under Article 69(1) | £486.00 | £496.00 | £506.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 30. | | Bingo club grant declared final | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Gaming Machine Certificates and Permits | | | | | |
| 31. | | A notice of application for the grant of a gaming machine certificate under Article 85(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 32. | | A notice of application for the renewal of a gaming machine certificate under Article 87(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 33. | | A notice of application for the renewal of a gaming machine certificate out of time under Article 89(1) | £486.00 | £496.00 | £506.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 34. | | A notice of application for the grant of a gaming machine permit under Article 85(3) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Registration of Clubs | | | | | |
| 35. | | A notice of application for the registration of a club under Article 96(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 36. | | A notice of application for the renewal of registration of a club under Article 98(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 37. | | A notice of application for the renewal of registration of a club out of time under Article 100(1) | £486.00 | £496.00 | £506.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Lottery Certificates | | | | | |
| 38. | | A notice of application for the grant of a lottery certificate under Article 142(1) | £369.00 | £376.00 | £384.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 39. | | A notice of application for renewal of a lottery certificate under Article 144(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 40 | | A notice of application for renewal out of time of a lottery certificate under Article 146(1) | £486.00 | £496.00 | £506.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 41. | | A notice of application for revocation of a lottery certificate under Article 149(1) | £303.00 | £309.00 | £315.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Supplementary | | | | | |
| 42. | (a) | For each inspection of the register of licences, certificates and permits kept under Article 174(1) | £36.00 | £37.00 | £38.00 |
| | | | | | |
| | (b) | For each copy of all or any part of an entry taken from the register of licences, certificates and permits kept under Article 174(1) | £17.00 | £17.00 | £17.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 43. | (a) | For each inspection of the register of clubs kept under Article 175(1) | £36.00 | £37.00 | £38.00 |
| | (b) | For each copy of all or part of an entry taken from the register of clubs kept under Article 175(1) | £17.00 | £17.00 | £17.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 44. | | A duplicate of any licence, certificate or permit referred to in Article 179(1) being a certified copy of particulars recorded in the register kept under Article 174(1) or 175(1), as the case may be, and issued under Article 179(2) | £244.00 | £249.00 | £254.00 |
| | | | | | |
| F. Applications under the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 | | | | | |
| 45. | | On every application for the renewal of registration of a club under Article 7 | £442.00 | £451.00 | £460.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 46. | | Additional fee for application to renew registration out of time under Article 9 for each month or part of month | £168.00 | £171.00 | £174.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 47. | | Application for continuance of club in other temporary premises under Article 12 | £111.00 | £113.00 | £115.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 48. | (a) | For each inspection of the register of clubs as provided for under Article 17 | £36.00 | £37.00 | £38.00 |
| | (b) | For each copy of all or any part of any entry taken from the register of clubs as provided for under Article 17 | £17.00 | £17.00 | £17.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 49. | | A duplicate certificate of registration being a certified copy of particulars recorded in the register of clubs, issued under Article 20(2) | £244.00 | £249.00 | £254.00 |
| | | | | | |
| G. Miscellaneous | | | | | |
| 50. | | A certificate of conviction or order | £49.00 | £50.00 | £51.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 51. | | A certificate authorising the grant of game dealer’s licence | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 52. | | A notice of application for a licence under section 1 of the General Dealers (Ireland) Act 1903 | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 53. | | A notice of application, or an application, to a magistrates’ court (other than an application brought by an employer under paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 1 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016) not otherwise provided for | £163.00 | £166.00 | £169.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 54. | | On a copy, including a photographic copy, of all or any part of any document not otherwise provided for— | | | |
| | (a) | five sheets or less | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 |
| | (b) | for each sheet thereafter | £0.50 | £0.50 | £0.50 |
| | (c) | on a copy order/decree including certified or sealed | £17.00 | £17.00 | £17.00 |
| | (d) | on a copy order/decree produced online | £15.00 | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 55. | | Application under section 3A(2) or (6) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| H. Applications under the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 | | | | | |
| 56. | | A notice of application for a declaration of parentage under Article 28 | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 57. | | A summons on an application for a liability order under Article 33(2) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 58. | | An application for a summons or warrant under regulation 29 of the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| I. Applications under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 | | | | | |
| 59. | | An application for an order under Parts II or III not otherwise provided for | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 60. | | An application for an order under Article 50 (care or supervision order), 55 (education supervision order) or 62 (child assessment order) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 61. | | An application for an order under Article 53 (contact or refusal of contact with a child in care) or 13 (change of child’s surname or removal from the jurisdiction) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 62. | | An application for a financial provision order under Schedule 1 | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 63. | | An application to vary, extend or discharge an order made under any of the provisions of the Order mentioned at items 59 to 62 above | £60.00 | £61.00 | £62.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 64. | | An application under Article 129 (affecting the registration of a child-minder) or an appeal under Article 131 (appeal in relation to registration of child-minder) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 65. | | An appeal under Article 113 (appeal in relation to foster parenting) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 66. | | An appeal under Article 145 (appeal in relation to licence to take part in public performance) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 67. | | Any ex-parte application under Article 63 (emergency protection) | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 68. | | Full application under Article 63 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 69. | | Application for a maintenance order to be sent outside Northern Ireland for enforcement | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 70. | | On a C2 application | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 71. | | Application for leave to apply under Article 44 (secure accommodation) | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Note: Where an application under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 requires the leave of the Court the relevant fee applies where leave is sought but no further fee may be charged if leave is granted and the application is made. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| J. Applications under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 | | | | | |
| 72. | | Any ex-parte (emergency) application | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 73. | | Full application | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 74. | | On a C2 application | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 75. | | Any other application under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, not otherwise provided for | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| | | | | | |
| K. Applications under the Domestic Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 | | | | | |
| 76. | | Any application under Domestic Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 and Article 98 of the Magistrates’ Court (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
| L. Applications under the Family Law Act 1986 | | | | | |
| 77. | | Application for an order under section 33 and/or 34 of the Family Law Act 1986 | £81.00 | £83.00 | £85.00 |
| | | | | | |
Article 6

SCHEDULE 2

Fees payable for service of a summons or process

| | | | Fee | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | | |
| | | | As from 01/04/26 | As from 01/04/27 | As from 01/04/28 |
| 1. | (1) | Subject to sub-paragraph (2) and paragraph 3, for the service of a summons or process or document | £17.00 | £17.00 | £17.00 |
| | | | | | |
| | (2) | Where service of a summons or process is required to be personal | £22.00 | £22.00 | £22.00 |
| | | | | | |
| 2. | | For the service of a summons or process where there are two or more defendants or witnesses in the same proceedings there shall be a separate fee for each defendant or witness | | | |
| | | | | | |
| 3. | | Where a document relating to a summons is served together with the summons, for each document served | £4.00 | £4.00 | £4.00 ” |
| | | | | | |

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Magistrates’ Courts Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 102) to increase the fees payable in respect of proceedings in the Magistrates’ Courts over a three-year period (5% increase effective from 1st April 2026, 2% increase effective from 1st April 2027, with a further 2% increase effective from 1st April 2028). It also amends the 1996 Order to clarify that no fee will be charged for an application under section 3A(2) or (6) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992. In addition, it amends the 1996 Order to prescribe a specific fee for applications under the Family Law Act 1986 in relation to the disclosure of a child’s whereabouts and recovery of a child.

An Explanatory Memorandum and a Regulatory Impact Assessment have been produced and are available from the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, Laganside House, 23-27 Oxford Street, Belfast BT1 3LA or online alongside this Statutory Rule at www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.

(1) 1978 c. 23 as amended by the Courts Act 2009 (c. 39) and s.59 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (2016 c. 21 (N.I.)).

(2) Article 15(1) and paragraph 6(h) of Schedule 17 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010 No. 976).

(3) Article 15(4)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010 No. 976). Formerly the Department of Finance and Personnel, see the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (2016 c.5 (N.I.)), Section 1(4) and Schedule 1.

(4) S.R. 1996 No. 102 to which relevant amendments are made by S.R. 2007 No. 379, S.R. 2017 No. 14, S.R. 2018 No. 101, S.R. 2019 No. 179 and S.R. 2023 No. 170.

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