HM Courts & Tribunals Service Edition N11 Defence form (02.21) 3 pages

Form N11 — Defence form

The general HMCTS form a defendant uses to dispute a civil claim, with a statement of truth and an address for documents.

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N11 Defence form · Defence form (N11)
The official HM Courts & Tribunals Service form, edition N11 Defence form (02.21) — blank
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N11 Defence form (2021) Defence form (N11) — page 1 of 3
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What is N11 Defence form?

If someone has started a court claim against you in England and Wales and you dispute it, you tell the court why in a defence. Form N11 is HMCTS's general defence form: it can be used to dispute most kinds of claim. If the court sent you a specific defence form, such as N9B or N9D in the County Court response pack, GOV.UK says to use that instead.

The form has three parts: the court, claim number and parties with a large box for 'I dispute the claimant's claim because', a statement of truth signed by you, your litigation friend or your legal representative, and the address where documents should be sent.

FileIt asks the questions in plain English, checks the defence fits the page (or tells you to add continuation sheets), prints names with accents correctly and fills HMCTS's own N11 PDF (02.21 edition). You sign it and send it to the court. FileIt never files anything for you.

Who fills it
The defendant, their litigation friend or legal representative
Sent to
The court dealing with the claim
Courts
Civil courts of England and Wales
Pages
3: defence, statement of truth, address for documents
Signature
Statement of truth, signed by the defendant or the person acting for them
Edition
N11 Defence form (02.21)

Who needs to fill out N11 Defence form?

  • A defendant who disputes all or part of a civil claim and wasn't sent a specific defence form.
  • A company or firm defending a claim, signed by an officer or partner.
  • A litigation friend defending a claim for a child or a person who lacks capacity.
  • A solicitor or other legal representative filing a defence for a client.
  • Not the right form if the claim came with a response pack: use N9B (specified amount) or N9D (unspecified amount) from the pack.

When to use N11 Defence form

  • After the claim form and particulars of claim are served on you, within the time the court's papers allow for a defence.
  • When you've decided to dispute the claim rather than admit it.
  • When you've already acknowledged service and now need to file the defence itself.

What you need before you start

  • The claim form, for the court, the claim number and the parties' names exactly as written.
  • The claimant's particulars of claim, so your defence can answer each point.
  • Your reasons for disputing the claim, and any parts you accept.
  • Your date of birth, if you're an individual.
  • An address for documents, with phone, DX, reference or email if they apply.

What’s on N11 Defence form

The 2021 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts, and it is signed by Defendant (or their legal representative):

  1. The claimDefendant (or their legal representative)
  2. Your defenceDefendant (or their legal representative)
  3. Statement of truthDefendant (or their legal representative)
  4. Address for documentsDefendant (or their legal representative)

How to fill out N11 Defence form, step by step

1 The claim

Copy the name of the court, the claim number, the claimant and the defendant(s) from the claim form.

2 Your defence

Explain why you dispute the claim in the large box on page 1, ideally in numbered paragraphs that follow the particulars of claim. The box holds about 50 lines: FileIt tells you if you need continuation sheets.

3 Statement of truth

Choose 'I believe that the facts stated in this defence form are true' if you sign for yourself, or the second statement if you sign for the defendant (a legal representative or company officer). Add the date of birth, who is signing, your full name and, for a legal representative, the firm.

4 Address for documents

Give the address where documents about the claim should be sent, with the postcode in its letter boxes, and any phone, fax, DX number, reference or email.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using N11 when the court sent a response pack: the specific defence form (N9B or N9D) should be used instead.
  • Leaving the defence vague. Say which points of the particulars of claim you deny, which you admit and why.
  • Ticking the wrong statement of truth: a legal representative signs 'The Defendant believes...'.
  • Copying the claim number wrongly, so the court can't match the defence to the case.
  • Forgetting that the statement of truth covers continuation sheets too, so they must be accurate as well.

After you fill it out

Download the filled PDF from FileIt and read every page against the claim form.

Sign the statement of truth by hand, or send it for signature with FileIt's eSignature.

Send it to the court with any continuation sheets, as the court's papers explain. FileIt doesn't file it for you.

Keep a copy with the claim papers in your FileIt vault.

Fill out N11 Defence form online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 23 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real HM Courts & Tribunals Service form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start N11 Defence form now — it’s free

N11 Defence form: frequently asked questions

When should I use N11 instead of N9B or N9D?

GOV.UK describes N11 as a general defence form for most kinds of claim, and says that if a court sends you a specific defence form you should use that instead. County Court money claims usually come with a response pack containing N9B or N9D.

What is a statement of truth?

A signed confirmation that the facts in your defence are true. The form warns that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.

Can someone sign it for me?

Yes: a litigation friend (for a child or a person who lacks capacity) or your legal representative. A legal representative uses the second statement, 'The Defendant believes...'. FileIt checks the statement matches who signs.

What if my defence doesn't fit?

Write the rest on continuation sheets and attach them. The statement of truth covers 'this defence form and any continuation sheets'.

Does FileIt send the defence to the court?

No. FileIt fills in the official PDF for you to sign and send yourself.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by HM Courts & Tribunals Service or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.

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