Turn a civil disagreement into a focused assessment brief.

Define the disagreement before choosing a route

A civil dispute assessment begins with the events and the result you want, not an assumption that a court claim is the next step. Tell us who is involved, where the matter arose and what has already been requested. Yudey can organise an enquiry and supporting file for professional assessment. Advice and representation require an accepted engagement with clearly identified responsibilities.

This page concerns England and Wales. Official guidance outlines the money claim process and alternatives that may be relevant. ^[1] Not every civil disagreement is a money claim, and the professional must assess the correct procedure. A property, injunction or specialist statutory issue may require a different scope. Scottish and Northern Irish matters need jurisdiction-specific advice.

Make a reliable chronology

Write the key events in date order, identifying the source for each. Distinguish a document created at the time from a later recollection. If the parties disagree about a conversation, record the competing account rather than present one interpretation as an established fact. The preparation can organise the chronology without deciding whose evidence a court would accept.

Bring contracts, messages, photographs and payment records in their original form where possible. Avoid editing a message chain to remove context. We can index the material and flag missing attachments or uncertain dates. A short file with clear links between events and evidence is generally more useful for assessment than an unlabelled collection of repeated screenshots.

Explain the loss and the remedy

If money is claimed, separate the amounts and explain how each arose. Show payments already made, refunds received and estimates that remain provisional. Do not combine an actual invoice with an unsupported allowance as though both were proved expenditure. The professional assesses recoverability and any need for expert evidence; the coordinator does not approve a claim value.

The desired result may instead involve performance, return of property, an apology or an agreed end to a relationship. Describe practical priorities and constraints. A legal remedy and a preferred commercial outcome are not necessarily identical. Clear instructions help the professional assess what is available, what requires further evidence and whether a proportionate negotiated route merits consideration.

Identify risks and urgent dates

Include formal demands, notices and all court papers, together with receipt dates. An assessment enquiry does not extend a deadline or confirm that a representative is handling it. If urgent action is needed, responsibility must be expressly accepted by the appropriate professional. Do not assume that an acknowledgement of your documents constitutes advice on when a response is due.

Disclose previous admissions, offers, complaints and related proceedings. A balanced brief helps the adviser consider possible defences, counterclaims and costs exposure. We do not promise that every expense can be recovered or that a strong factual account guarantees success. Missing evidence, the other party's position and practical enforcement can all affect the decision about further work.

Agree an assessment output

The accepted preparation can deliver a chronology, document index and issues list. Each unresolved question should show what information is missing and who can provide it. Where legal advice is accepted, its provider and scope should be stated separately. The engagement should explain whether correspondence, negotiation or proceedings are included rather than leave those tasks to assumption.

Start by sending a concise outline, key documents and your principal objective. Fees are quoted in GBP with applicable VAT and separate professional charges identified. Further work depends on the assessment and your instructions. The intended result is a usable foundation for informed decisions, without promising a claim, settlement, court timetable or recovery from the other party.