Small Claims Tribunals Act 1984 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · Establishment and Jurisdiction of Tribunals
15. Lodging claims
Feedback & supportProceedings before a tribunal must be commenced by lodging a claim with the Registrar.
tribunal
“tribunal” means a Small Claims Tribunal constituted under section 4 of the State Courts Act 1970;
A claim must be in writing in the prescribed form and must be signed by the claimant.
The Registrar may permit a claim to be made orally and cause it to be reduced to writing.
Registrar
“Registrar” means the registrar, a deputy registrar or an assistant registrar for the tribunals;
After the claim has been reduced to writing, it must be read over and explained to the claimant and, if confirmed correct by the claimant, must be signed by the claimant and a copy of the claim must be given to the claimant.
claimant
“claimant” means a person who lodges a claim with a tribunal and includes any person who becomes a party to the proceedings on any claim in the capacity of a claimant;
In any joint or representative claim —
the Registrar may permit the claim to be filed even though it has not been signed by all the claimants or persons represented on condition that all the claimants or such persons must do so before the date of hearing; and
the name of a claimant or person represented who has not so signed the claim before the hearing may, if a tribunal so directs, be deleted from the claim and the amount of the claim reduced accordingly.
The Registrar may, in accordance with the rules, permit a claim to be lodged by electronic facsimile or any other prescribed electronic means.