How to Read a County Court Cause List
A guide to reading County Court cause lists in England and Wales. Understand list types, hearing codes (CMC, FDR, BHA), claim numbers, and how to find a specific civil case.
County Courts handle most civil disputes in England and Wales — money claims, possession, personal injury, consumer claims, contract disputes, and small claims. Their cause lists differ from Crown and Magistrates Court lists in structure, terminology, and the level of detail they publish.
This guide walks through a typical County Court cause list, explains what the codes and abbreviations mean, and shows how to locate a specific civil case.
What you'll find on a County Court list
- Claim number — the unique reference for the dispute (e.g. K00BS123).
- Parties — claimant v defendant (e.g. Smith v ABC Ltd).
- Hearing type — CMC, directions, FDR, possession, small claim, etc.
- Listed time and courtroom.
- District judge or circuit judge name (when published).
- Estimated hearing length.
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Get AlertsDecoding the claim number
County Court claim numbers follow a fixed format: a court letter code, a year code, and a sequence number — for example K00BS123 (Bristol County Court, year 00, claim 123). The first character indicates the issuing centre. Some courts continue to use older numbering schemes, so don't be surprised by occasional outliers.
Common hearing types and codes
| Code / Type | Full name | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CMC | Case Management Conference | Directions hearing setting timetable, evidence, and trial date |
| Directions | Directions hearing | Procedural orders — disclosure, witness statements, expert evidence |
| FDR | Financial Dispute Resolution (Family) | Settlement-focused hearing in financial remedy proceedings |
| DRA | Dispute Resolution Appointment (Family) | Final-issue resolution hearing |
| BHA | Beneficial Hearing Appointment | Hearing in housing possession proceedings |
| PTR | Pre-Trial Review | Review of readiness for trial — last opportunity for case management |
| Trial | Final hearing | Disputed evidence is heard and the judge gives a decision |
| Small Claim | Small Claims Track hearing | Disputes under £10,000 — informal procedure with no costs awarded |
| Possession | Housing possession | Landlord seeking possession of property; tenant defending |
| DR | Default Judgment review | Where defendant has not filed a defence |
Family Court cases share County Court hearing centres
Many County Court hearing centres also house Family Courts, so you'll often see family hearing codes (FDR, DRA, FHDRA) appearing in lists alongside civil ones. Family lists are published separately on CauseAlert at /family-court-listings.
Public access to County Court lists
County Court daily lists are published by HMCTS via the Court and Tribunal Hearings service the working day before each hearing day. They show parties, claim numbers, hearing types, listed times, and courtrooms. Some hearings (e.g. financial remedy in Family) are heard in private — these appear on the list but no further detail is published.
You can browse all current County Court lists on CauseAlert at https://www.causealert.com/county-court-listings.
How to find a specific County Court case
- Locate the claim number. On any letter from the court the claim number appears in the header. The format is typically a letter (court code) followed by digits — e.g. K00BS123.
- Identify the issuing court. The first 1-3 characters of the claim number indicate the County Court hearing centre that issued the claim. The case may have been transferred — check the latest correspondence for the current hearing centre.
- Find the court's daily list. Browse to that court's listings page on CauseAlert (e.g. /bristol-civil-and-family-justice-centre) to see today's hearings. Use the search to filter by claim number or party name.
- Set a free alert. Add the claim number or a party name as an alert and you'll get SMS or email any time the case is listed at any County Court — useful when cases transfer between centres.
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Start free — 2 alerts includedFrequently asked questions
What does CMC mean on a County Court list?
CMC stands for Case Management Conference — a directions hearing held early in litigation where the judge sets the procedural timetable for the case. The court considers disclosure, witness statements, expert evidence, and trial estimates. CMCs are typically short (30 minutes to 1 hour) and held before a District Judge.
How do I find a County Court case?
You need the claim number (e.g. K00BS123) or the party names. With either, you can search County Court daily lists at https://www.causealert.com/county-court-listings. Lists are published the working day before each hearing day. You can also set a free SMS or email alert on a claim number to be notified the moment the case is listed at any County Court.
Are County Court hearings open to the public?
Most County Court civil hearings are held in public and anyone may attend. Family hearings (financial remedy, child arrangements) are usually held in private. Anonymity orders may be in place for some cases — these are noted on the list. Press attendance is permitted at all open hearings.
What is a small claims hearing?
A small claims hearing is a final hearing in the Small Claims Track — for disputed claims under £10,000 (or £1,500 in housing disrepair). The procedure is informal: parties usually represent themselves, costs are not normally awarded against the loser, and the District Judge decides on the day. Small claims are typically listed for 1-3 hours.
Where can I see County Court lists for a specific city?
CauseAlert publishes daily lists for every County Court hearing centre in England and Wales. Visit https://www.causealert.com/county-court-listings for the full directory, or search by city to find the local court (e.g. https://www.causealert.com/bristol-civil-and-family-justice-centre).
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Create free accountData sourced from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Court information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Crown copyright.