Hearsay evidence in Dudley County Court and Family Court small claims

Small claims relax the strict evidence rules, but hearsay still has to be handled honestly: if your witness statement reports what someone else said - 'the engineer told me the wiring was unsafe' - that is hearsay, and how you present it affects its weight at Dudley County Court and Family Court.

Attributing hearsay properly

Never present another person's words as your own observation. Write who said it, when, in what context, and - where possible - exhibit the document that records it (the engineer's report beats your memory of the conversation). The judge can then weigh the source; a statement that hides its origins reads as unreliable.

The formal rules in brief

CPR 33 requires a party intending to rely on hearsay at trial to have served notice identifying the hearsay evidence; in small claims practice the judge has wide discretion (CPR 27), and the practical rule is: identify it, exhibit any underlying document, and be ready to say why the original speaker is not giving evidence themselves.

Checklist

• Every reported statement attributed to its source
• Underlying documents exhibited where they exist
• Reasons the original speaker will not attend, prepared
• CPR 33 notice served where the formal route is used

Official sources and related pages

• Witness statement formatting
• CPR 32.14 and false statements

Court details (verified register data)

• Court: Dudley County Court and Family Court
• Address: The Inhedge, Dudley, Dudley, DY1 1RY
• Phone: 0300 123 5577
• Civil filing email: enquiries.dudley.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
• DX: DX 703028 Sheffield 6
• Public counter hours: Monday to Friday
• Document drop-box: Not published in the register - confirm with the court directly
• Hearing format: Not published in the register - confirm with the court directly
• Facilities: disabled access

Source: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/dudley-county-court-and-family-court. Verified 2026-09-04. Always confirm against the official court finder before travelling.

Free national support

• Support Through Court: 0300 081 0000 - free, independent support for litigants without a lawyer
• Citizens Advice consumer service: 0808 223 1133 - consumer disputes, pre-claim guidance
• HMCTS general enquiries: 0300 123 7050 - finding the right court or money claim centre

This page is general information about County Court procedure, not legal advice, and it is not provided by HMCTS or any court. Procedures and fees change - always confirm against the official sources linked here before you act.

>Small Claims Court Help is an independent information directory. It is not affiliated with HMCTS, the Ministry of Justice, or any court.

Reviewed by Sean McNamara, 2026-09-04.