Notice of Allocation to the small claims track — Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre
Form N157 is the order that allocates your claim to the small claims track and imposes the standard directions: file and serve witness statements and all documentary evidence at least 14 days before the hearing; the court will offer mediation in the meantime. Reading it correctly is the difference between a prepared hearing and an unpleasant surprise at Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre.
Directions decoded
The standard directions are short but mandatory: statements and documents to the court AND to the other party 14 days pre-hearing; bring copies; notify the court if you intend to rely on documents not already served. Nothing in the small claims track prevents you from agreeing a sensible variation with the other side in writing, but the safe course is simply to comply early.
What happens between allocation and hearing
Expect the Small Claims Mediation Service contact, and a later notice giving the hearing date, time and room at Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre. Diarise the 14-day deadline the moment you know the hearing date - not when the deadline is close. Evidence served late can be excluded, and the judge will hold you to what N157 says.
Checklist
- Hearing date diarised; 14-day deadline calendared
- Witness statement drafted (PD 32 format)
- Exhibits assembled into an indexed bundle
- Copies for court + every other party
- Mediation appointment considered
Official sources and related pages
Court details (verified register data)
- Court: Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre
- Court code: 233
- Address: 8 Arcade Street, Ipswich, Ipswich, IP1 1EJ
- Phone: 0300 123 5577; 0300 303 0642; 0330 808 4424
- Civil filing email: enquiries.norwich.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
- DX: DX 97385 Norwich 5 -Civil
- Public counter hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 4pm
- 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, hearing loop, interview rooms, baby changing, GovWiFi
Source: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/ipswich-county-court-and-family-hearing-centre. 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
Filing a witness statement? The Casewright CPR Part 32 Witness Statement & Bundle Builder structures your statement into CPR 32-compliant numbered paragraphs with a correct statement of truth and indexed exhibits - flat £79. This site is independent of Casewright; link is a sponsored referral.
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.