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Free N170 Pre-Trial Checklist Builder

Led by Diellza Nika Hyseni and Mentor Nika · Updated 23 October 2026

Fill in the official HMCTS pre-trial checklist (listing questionnaire) in minutes, for the fast track, the intermediate track or the multi-track: the right boxes ticked, the date to file it, the hearing fee, and the checks the rules require. From DMD Costs, law costs draftsmen in Westhoughton, Bolton.

  • Free, with no sign-up
  • No paywall, no watermark
  • The official HMCTS form
  • Nothing leaves your browser

Answer the questions below; the checks and the form update as you type. Nothing leaves your browser.

The claim
Allocated to the
The dates the court gave
The court fixed
The day the court sent out the notice or order (not the day the order was made); if the court gave notice only orally, the day it did so (Fees Order Sch 1, notes to fee 2.1). Used only to work out when the hearing fee is due.
Who it is for
Completed by
For the
Party
Compliance with directions
1.1 Have you complied with the directions already given that require action by you?
1.2 Are additional directions necessary before the trial?
Witnesses

2.2 If the trial date is not yet fixed: any days in the trial period you or your witnesses would wish to avoid, if possible.

2.3 Do you or any of your witnesses need special facilities or arrangements at court?
2.4 Will you be providing an interpreter for any of your witnesses?
Experts
Do you have expert evidence?
Legal representation
4.1 Who will present your case at the trial?
4.2 If the trial date is not yet fixed: any day in the trial period the person presenting your case would wish to avoid?
The trial
5.1 Has the estimate of the time needed for the trial changed?
Vulnerability
7.1 Are you, or a witness giving evidence for you, vulnerable in any way the court needs to consider?
What you attach
Signature and address

The builder applies CPR Parts 28 and 29, Practice Directions 28 and 29 and the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008, as they stood on 23 October 2026, to the official form N170 (10.23). It fills in the form; it does not say what directions to seek, which witnesses or experts to call, or how to run the trial, and it does not prepare a costs estimate or budget. Check every box against your file before filing. It is a guide, not legal advice. Where a rule does not settle a point, the check says “our reading”.

Key points

  • DMD Costs’ N170 builder is a free online tool that fills in the official HMCTS Form N170, the pre-trial checklist (listing questionnaire), for a claim on the fast track, the intermediate track or the multi-track, and downloads it as a PDF ready to sign and file.
  • It is completely free, with no sign-up or paywall, and runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to DMD Costs.
  • The pre-trial checklist is in Form N170 on all three tracks (PD 28 para 6.1(1); PD 29 para 8.1(1)); on the fast and intermediate tracks the court sends it with Form N171, the notice of the date for returning it (PD 28 para 6.1(2)).
  • On the fast and intermediate tracks the date for filing is not more than 8 weeks before the trial date or the start of the trial period (CPR 28.4(2)); on the multi-track it is not later than 8 weeks before (PD 29 para 8.1(3)). In the typical fast track timetable the court sends the checklists 20 weeks after allocation and they are filed at 22 weeks (PD 28 para 9.5).
  • If no party files a checklist, the court orders that unless one is filed within 7 days of service of its order, the claim, defence and any counterclaim are struck out without further order (CPR 28.4(3); CPR 29.6(3)).
  • The Fees Order lists no fee for filing the checklist itself, but the hearing fee is £619 on the fast track and £1,334 on the intermediate track or multi-track (fee 2.1), paid by the date the Fees Order sets, which the court’s fee notice states; unpaid, with no remission applied for, the claim is struck out (CPR 3.7A1).
  • Where no costs management order has been made, the form tells legal representatives to attach estimates of the costs incurred to date and of the likely overall costs, and on the multi-track a proposed timetable for the trial. The builder records the estimate; it never prepares one.

How to use the N170 builder

  1. Enter the claim and the dates. Choose the track, enter the court and claim number, and the last date for filing and the trial date or trial period from the court’s notice (N171) or the directions order.
  2. Say who it is for. Say whether the party’s legal representative or the party completes it, and which party: first, second, third or another; claimant, defendant or other party.
  3. Answer sections 1 to 4. Compliance with directions and any additional directions, the witnesses and any dates to avoid, the experts, and who will present the case at the trial.
  4. Answer sections 5 to 7. Whether the trial estimate has changed, whether the attached trial timetable is agreed, shorter notice (fast and intermediate track only) and vulnerability.
  5. List what you attach. Tick the application, draft order and proposed trial timetable you attach. A legal representative says whether a costs management order has been made and, if not, records the costs estimate attached.
  6. Sign, download and file. Enter your name, the date and the address, download the filled N170, check it, sign it and file it by the date, with what it says is attached.

When the pre-trial checklist is due

On the fast track and the intermediate track the court sends Form N170 with Form N171, which gives the date for returning it. That date is in the notice of allocation, not more than 8 weeks before the trial date or the start of the trial period, and the forms are sent no later than 2 weeks before it (CPR 28.4; PD 28 para 6.1). In the typical fast track timetable, counted from the notice of allocation, the court sends the checklists at 20 weeks, they are filed at 22 weeks and the hearing is at 30 weeks (PD 28 para 9.5); the free fast track timetable calculator works out every date. On the multi-track the court specifies the date when it fixes the trial date or period, not later than 8 weeks before it, and serves the checklists at least 14 days before the filing date (CPR 29.2(3); PD 29 para 8.1). Only the court can change the date (CPR 28.3(1)(c); CPR 29.5(1)(c)).

If the checklist is not filed

If no party files a completed checklist by the date, the court orders that unless one is filed within 7 days of service of that order, the claim, defence and any counterclaim will be struck out without further order (CPR 28.4(3); CPR 29.6(3); PD 28 para 6.5(1); PD 29 para 8.3(1)). Where one party files and another does not, or information is missing, the court may give directions and normally fixes or confirms the trial date; on the multi-track it fixes a hearing (CPR 28.4(4); CPR 29.6(4); PD 29 para 8.3(2)). A party who has not complied with directions says so at 1.1, with the date by which it will comply: the court will not allow a failure to comply to postpone the trial unless the circumstances are exceptional (PD 28 para 5.4; PD 29 para 7.4).

The costs estimate the checklist asks for

Page 1 of the N170 is addressed to legal representatives: where no costs management order has been made, attach estimates of the costs incurred to date and of the likely overall costs, in substantial cases in compliance with the CPR. Where one has been made, the court controls the budgets (CPR 3.15(3)) and a party must revise its budgeted costs if significant developments warrant it (CPR 3.15A(1)); completing and filing the checklist is part of the PTR phase of a budget (PD 3D para 6). The builder records whether the estimate is attached and its date, and never works out a figure. For the statement of costs for summary assessment at the trial, where costs are not fixed, use the free N260 builder: for a fast track trial it is filed and served not less than 2 days before the trial (PD 44 para 9.5(4)(a)).

The hearing fee

The Fees Order lists no fee for filing the checklist itself (our reading). The hearing fee (fee 2.1) is £619 on the fast track and £1,334 on the intermediate track or multi-track. It is paid by the claimant (by the defendant where the claim proceeds on the counterclaim alone): at least 28 days before the trial date, or the Monday of the first week of the trial period, where notice of it was given 36 days or more before, and otherwise within 7 days after the notice. Where the court gave both a trial date and a trial period, the fee runs from the Monday of the period. Notice is given on the day the court sends it out, or, if it is given only orally, on the day it is given, not on the day an order is made (Fees Order Sch 1, notes to fee 2.1). The builder reads “at least 28 days” as 28 clear days, neither the day of payment nor the trial date counting (our reading: the courts read “not less than” a number of days before an event as clear days, Re Hector Whaling Ltd [1936] Ch 208, following R v Turner [1910] 1 KB 346, and the Fees Order is outside CPR 2.8), and brings a weekend or bank holiday back to the business day before. The court’s fee notice states the date (CPR 3.7A1(3)), but the date is calculated under the Fees Order (CPR 3.7A1(1)(e)), so if the two differ, pay by the earlier. If it is not paid and no remission has been applied for, the claim is struck out automatically (CPR 3.7A1(7)), or the counterclaim where the defendant pays on it alone (CPR 3.7AA(6)). Enter the day the court sent out the first notice in the builder to see the date; every fee is in the civil court fees calculator.

On the Damages Claims Portal

In a fast track claim on the portal, the parties complete a trial readiness certificate on the portal within 2 weeks of the court’s notice instead, unless a judge also directs an N170 (PD 51ZB para 7.6). On the intermediate track and the multi-track, an N170 is needed only where a judge directs one, uploaded to the portal; if none is uploaded on time, the claim goes to a judge for directions rather than the strike-out order (PD 51ZB para 7.6A). The pilot runs until 6 April 2027.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Yes. It is completely free, with no sign-up, no paywall and no limit. It fills in the official HMCTS form in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to DMD Costs.
Form N170 is the pre-trial checklist, also called the listing questionnaire. The court uses it to check that a case allocated to the fast track, the intermediate track or the multi-track is ready for trial and to give directions for the trial, including a trial timetable (PD 28 para 6.1(1); PD 29 para 8.1(1); CPR 28.5 and 29.8). It asks about compliance with directions, witnesses, experts, legal representation, the length of the trial and vulnerability, and lists what is attached.
By the date the court specifies. On the fast and intermediate tracks the court sends the checklist with Form N171, which gives that date; it is not more than 8 weeks before the trial date or the start of the trial period, and the court sends the forms no later than 2 weeks before it (CPR 28.4(1) and (2); PD 28 para 6.1(2)); in the typical fast track timetable the checklists go out at 20 weeks after allocation and are filed at 22 weeks (PD 28 para 9.5). On the multi-track each party must file by the date specified, which will be not later than 8 weeks before the trial date or the start of the trial period, and the court serves the checklists at least 14 days before it (CPR 29.6(2); PD 29 para 8.1(3) and (4)). Only the court can move the date (CPR 28.3(1)(c); CPR 29.5(1)(c)).
If no party files a completed checklist by the date, the court will order that unless one is filed within 7 days of service of that order, the claim, defence and any counterclaim will be struck out without further order (CPR 28.4(3); CPR 29.6(3)). If one party files and another does not, or a party leaves out information the checklist asks for, the court may give directions; it normally fixes or confirms the trial date, and on the multi-track it fixes a hearing (CPR 28.4(4); CPR 29.6(4); PD 28 para 6.5(2); PD 29 para 8.3(2)).
The Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 lists no fee for filing the checklist itself (our reading). The hearing fee, fee 2.1, is £619 on the fast track and £1,334 on the intermediate track or multi-track. It is charged when the court fixes the trial date or trial period and is paid by the claimant (by the defendant where the claim proceeds on the counterclaim alone): at least 28 days before the trial date (or the Monday of the first week of the trial period) where the court sent out notice of it 36 days or more before, and otherwise within 7 days after the notice (Fees Order Sch 1, notes to fee 2.1). The builder reads “at least 28 days” as 28 clear days (our reading). The court’s fee notice states the date, but the date is calculated under the Fees Order, so if the two differ, pay by the earlier (CPR 3.7A1(1)(e) and (3)). If it is not paid and no remission has been applied for, the claim is struck out automatically (CPR 3.7A1(7)), or the counterclaim where the defendant pays on it alone (CPR 3.7AA(6)). An application for additional directions costs £321 on notice (fee 2.4(a)) or £126 by consent (fee 2.5(a)).
If you are a legal representative and no costs management order has been made, yes: page 1 of the form says you must attach estimates of the costs incurred to date and of your likely overall costs, and in substantial cases provide them in compliance with the CPR. Where a costs management order has been made, the court controls the budgets (CPR 3.15(3)) and a party must revise its budgeted costs if significant developments warrant it (CPR 3.15A(1)). The builder records whether the estimate is attached and its date; it does not prepare the estimate, whose figures must be the firm’s own.
On the multi-track, yes: page 1 of the form says you must also attach a proposed timetable for the trial itself, and section 5.3 asks whether it is agreed. On the fast and intermediate tracks a proposed timetable may be attached. The court sets the trial timetable in consultation with the parties (CPR 28.5(1)(b); CPR 29.8; CPR 39.4).
The rules do not require the parties to exchange copies before filing, but they are encouraged to, so the court is not given conflicting or incomplete information (PD 28 para 6.1(4); PD 29 para 8.1(5)).
Answer Yes at 1.2 and attach an application and a draft order. The form’s note asks you to include all the directions needed for the claim to be tried on the date, or within the period, already fixed, including any about experts and any orders needed about directions still requiring action by another party. Question 1.3 asks whether they are agreed. The free N244 builder fills in the application notice.
Usually not on the fast track: each party completes a trial readiness certificate on the portal within 2 weeks of the court’s notice, and an N170 is needed only if a judge directs one as well (PD 51ZB para 7.6). On the intermediate track and the multi-track, an N170 is needed only if a judge directs the parties to complete one and upload it to the portal; if none is uploaded on time, the claim is referred to a judge for directions (PD 51ZB para 7.6A). The pilot runs until 6 April 2027 (para 1.3).

The costs side of the claim?

Costs are all we do. We work for claimant solicitor firms: we prepare costs budgets (Precedents H, R and T) and N260 statements of costs, draft the bill and negotiate the costs to settlement. The fee is fixed and agreed before any work begins.

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