From 1 April 2026, most fees in the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland will increase by 5%, with further 2% uplifts due on 1 April 2027 and 1 April 2028. The Department of Justice confirmed the timetable this week following its consultation on court fees. (thebriefni.co.uk)

The change is enacted through the Court of Judicature Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026, made on 3 March 2026 with the concurrence of the Department of Finance. The Order states it comes into operation on Wednesday 1 April 2026 and records consultation with the Lady Chief Justice ahead of sealing by Justice Minister Naomi Long and Finance Minister John O’Dowd.

Officials say the aim is to keep the service on a sustainable footing without closing the door on those with limited means. As the consultation document puts it, fees should “ensure that those who use the courts pay for the services they use, provided they can afford to do so.” In 2023/24 NICTS recovered 78% of the cost of civil and family courts, raising £25m against a £33m spend. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

For Northern readers who trade across the Irish Sea, this matters. Contracts that send disputes to Belfast’s High Court or the Court of Appeal will carry slightly higher up‑front costs from April. The Department’s consultation estimated the general increases would add around £4.5m over three years and generate additional recurring income of about £2.3m a year by 2028/29. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

Environmental challenges are unaffected. The Order confirms that the 1996 fees regime continues to apply to judicial reviews covered by the Aarhus Convention, preserving the existing approach for environmental litigants. That carve‑out remains important for campaigners who bring public interest cases.

There are also technical tweaks for Office of Care and Protection business. The Order clarifies how annual administration fees run in cases where a controller is appointed for a ‘patient’, removes fees where a court officer acts as controller, and sets out when additional fees are due in defined ‘special cases’. Income from war pensions is excluded from fee calculations in these matters, and no annual fee is charged if proceedings end within four weeks of the first controller application being issued.

Safeguards for low‑income users continue. The Department says fee remissions and exemptions remain in place, meaning people on certain benefits or low incomes can still apply for reduced or waived fees. Practitioners should make sure clients know to apply early where eligible. (thebriefni.co.uk)

Northern Ireland’s approach sits slightly above Scotland’s plan, where ministers have proposed 3% increases in 2026 and 2027. For firms used to work in England and Wales, it follows separate HMCTS inflationary changes applied from April 2025. (gov.scot)

Beyond the High Court and Court of Appeal, the Department’s consultation also signalled changes to enforcement fees at the Enforcement of Judgments Office. Proposals include a £50 minimum fee and a 25% variable element for debts under £1,000, and updated bands for higher value debts. Separate legislation is expected to set those details. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

Not everyone agrees with the direction of travel. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers argued during the consultation that “full cost recovery should not be the main aim when setting court fees”, warning of barriers for injured claimants where after‑the‑event insurance is limited in Northern Ireland. (apil.org.uk)

Context also matters on the solicitor side. County Court scale costs-what the losing party pays the winner-jumped 23% in November 2025 after years of stagnation. That uplift and the new court fee rises will feed directly into case budgets for insurers, SMEs and claimants alike. (clydeco.com)

What to watch next: the Order takes legal effect from Wednesday 1 April 2026. Detailed schedules for individual court fees are expected to be published and updated by NICTS in the weeks ahead. For Northern exporters, logistics firms and suppliers operating in or with Northern Ireland, it’s time to refresh cashflow plans, check jurisdiction clauses and build the new numbers into 2026‑28 litigation forecasts. (thebriefni.co.uk)