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What does it cost to start a minor claim?

The Court charges a fee to issue the claim. This fee is $170.00 as at 1 July 2023. It is added to the amount of which the applicant is claiming and if the claim is successful will be added to what the respondent has to pay but must in the first instance be paid to the Court registry by the applicant.

The Court gives each new claim a number ('the action number') and stamps each copy of the claim with the Court seal to show that it has been issued. The court needs to know the action number in order to provide any information which the parties ask for about the progress of the claim.

If the claim is filed online through CourtSA, it is conditionally accepted by the Court if a claim number is allocated to the proceeding, a file number is allocated to the document and the Court’s seal is applied to the document by the electronic system [Uniform Civil Rules 2020 (SA) r 32.1]. The Registrar may reject a document lodged for filing if [r 32.3]:

  • it does not substantially comply with the rules;
  • it is frivolous, vexatious, scandalous or an abuse of process of the Court; or
  • the Court has directed the Registrar not to accept it; or
  • leave (permission) is required, and leave has not been obtained.

If a document is filed electronically and conditionally accepted but then rejected by the Registrar, it is treated as not having been filed [r 32.3(2)].

To view the current fees for minor civil actions, visit the Courts website.

What does it cost to start a minor claim?  :  Last Revised: Thu Jul 6th 2023
The content of the Law Handbook is made available as a public service for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. See Disclaimer for details. For free and confidential legal advice in South Australia call 1300 366 424.