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File and serve pleadings (from 1 April 2022)
Note
This page describes the process for civil cases begun by originating claim (OC) and heard in the District Court or the General Division of the High Court.
Refer to Start a civil claim by originating claim (simplified civil process) instead if either of the following applies to your case:
- Civil cases begun by an OC and heard in the Magistrate's Court.
- Civil cases begun by an OC and heard in the District Court where all parties consent to the application of the simplified civil process.
About pleadings in a civil case
A pleading is a document in which a party states the facts on which they rely for their claim or defence.
Pleadings help parties to:
- Clarify their position so that they may prepare for trial accordingly and not be taken by surprise.
- Save time and expense so that the case will not be unnecessarily lengthened by matters that are not in dispute.
Both parties have to file pleadings for civil cases.
If you are filing a claim against another party, you are the claimant.
The other party is the defendant. Refer to How to respond to an originating claim to find out about the pleadings you have to file if you contest the claimant's claim.
Pleadings relating to the claimant
As a claimant, the pleadings in a civil action you may need to file include:
A statement of claim is a document containing the relevant facts which is relied on to establish your claim. You must file and serve the statement of claim on the defendant as the defendant may apply to the court for an order to dismiss your action if you fail to do so.
When to file
In general, you should file and serve a statement of claim on the defendant together with the originating claim (OC).
Where a defendant, served with an originating claim, wishes to contest a claim, the defendant must file and serve a notice of intention to contest or not contest within 14 days after the statement of claim is served on the defendant where it is served in Singapore and 21 days where the defendant is served out of Singapore.
The defendant must then file and serve a defence to the originating claim within 21 days after the statement of claim is served on the defendant where it is served in Singapore and 5 weeks where the defendant is served out of Singapore. If the defendant fails to file and serve a defence within the prescribed time, you as the claimant may apply for judgment in default of defence.
The defendant may also make a counterclaim in the same action if they think that they have a claim against you. In this case, they will file and serve their counterclaim (Form 13 of Appendix A of the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021 or Form 13 of Appendix A2 of the State Courts Practice Directions 2021), together with their defence, on you. If you are served with a defence and counterclaim, you will have to file your defence to counterclaim within 14 days.
If the defendant is challenging the jurisdiction of the Court, the defendant need not file and serve a defence on the merits, but must file and serve a defence stating the ground on which the defendant is challenging the jurisdiction of the Court.
After the defendant has filed its defence or you, as the claimant, have filed your defence to counterclaim, no further pleadings may be filed unless the Court otherwise orders. If you, as the claimant, merely wish to deny assertions in the defence, no reply needs to be filed, and if a reply is needed you, as the claimant, must seek the approval of the Court.
How to file
You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer.
If you are representing yourself, you must file the documents through eLitigation at the LawNet and CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
You must follow the Rules of Court 2021 and the State Court Practice Directions 2021 or the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021 to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.
Estimated fees
Refer to the following to find out the possible fees to file pleadings. You may also refer to the Fourth Schedule of the Rules of Court 2021 for the full list of court fees.
In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
Item or service | Fees |
|---|---|
File a statement of claim | $20 |
File a reply | $20 |
File a counterclaim | $20 |
Refer to the following for filing fees if your claim is up to $1 million. In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
Item or service | Fees |
|---|---|
File a statement of claim | $200 |
File a reply | $200 |
File a counterclaim | $200 |
Refer to the following for filing fees if your claim is more than $1 million. In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
Item or service | Fees |
|---|---|
File a statement of claim | $500 |
File a reply | $500 |
File a counterclaim | $500 |
Need help?
The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.
Find out moreResources
Refer to:
Legislation associated with this topic include:
Refer to:
- For Supreme Court: Part 8 of the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021 for originating processes and documents.
- For State Courts: Part III of the State Courts Practice Directions 2021 for originating processes and documents.
Go to Step-by-step guide
Step-by-step guide
File an originating process and pleadings
File a request for a default judgment, if needed
File an interlocutory application, if needed
Set down the action for trial
Attend court for trial
File an appeal or enforce judgment or order, if needed
Attend court for post-trial matters
2022/05/24
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