Letter Before Action Template UK

Generate a Letter Before Action compliant with Civil Procedure Rules Pre-Action Protocols. Required before court proceedings in England and Wales. From £4.99.

What is a Letter Before Action?

A Letter Before Action (LBA) is the formal pre-litigation letter sent to a defendant before a claim is issued in the English courts. It sets out the claim, the basis on which it is brought, the remedy sought and the consequence of non-response. It is required by the Civil Procedure Rules pre-action protocols.

When do you need one?

Before issuing any claim in the English courts. The Civil Procedure Rules expect parties to engage in proportionate pre-action correspondence; failing to do so can affect costs recovery even where the claim succeeds. Different protocols apply to different claim types — debt, professional negligence, construction, personal injury, judicial review.

What does it cover?

Identification of the parties, summary of the facts giving rise to the claim, the legal basis (breach of contract, tort, statutory duty), the remedy sought (debt, damages, specific performance), supporting evidence, response deadline (typically 14 days for debt, 30+ days for substantive disputes), and a willingness to consider alternative dispute resolution.

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