Claim
A formal request asking a court to order something, such as payment or the return of property.
Definition
A claim is the formal document that starts court proceedings. It sets out who the parties are, what the claimant says happened, and what remedy they are asking for. In England and Wales a money claim is usually started on the Claim Form (N1) and issued at a court or online.
In practice
Before issuing a claim you must usually send a letter of claim and allow the other side a reasonable time to respond.