Northern Ireland civil procedure
When may a plaintiff accept money paid into court in Northern Ireland?
The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. Accept the money by the prescribed written notice. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures.
- Period
- The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit
- Trigger
- Actual receipt of notice of the payment or increase
- Rule
- Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)
Current official revised XML accessed October 9, 2026, with retained amendment comparison. The June 2021 and February 2021 court PDFs are historical consolidation aids.
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When may a plaintiff accept money paid into court in Northern Ireland?
The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. Accept the money by the prescribed written notice. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures.
Responsible actor. The plaintiff accepting the sum paid into court.
Actual receipt of notice of the payment or increase.
An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures.
An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures. The result must identify optional acceptance service for the plaintiff accepting the sum paid into court. Confirm every actual event and completion before selecting the ordinary branch.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)How does this provision count time?
- Establish actual receipt of notice of the payment or increase.
- Accept the money by the prescribed written notice.
- The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. Exclude the controlling event day under Order 3 rule 2(2). Count 21 following days. Intermediate weekends remain because this interval exceeds seven days.
- Accept the money by the prescribed written notice. Order 3 rule 4 addresses acts prevented at a court office. It does not automatically postpone this service, disclosure, validity or deemed-event boundary. Unproved nonworking endpoints remain outside numeric qualification.
The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. Exclude the controlling event day under Order 3 rule 2(2). Count 21 following days. Intermediate weekends remain because this interval exceeds seven days.
Accept the money by the prescribed written notice. Order 3 rule 4 addresses acts prevented at a court office. It does not automatically postpone this service, disclosure, validity or deemed-event boundary. Unproved nonworking endpoints remain outside numeric qualification.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
Fictitious established event on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | Fictitious established event on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures. The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. Exclude the controlling event day under Order 3 rule 2(2). Count 21 following days. Intermediate weekends remain because this interval exceeds seven days. The independent ordinary endpoint is Tuesday, February 3, 2026 for optional-acceptance-service, not a different filing, service or entitlement date. | Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | Fictitious boundary event on Friday, March 13, 2026. The source-specific completion is accept the money by the prescribed written notice. Accept the money by the prescribed written notice. Order 3 rule 4 addresses acts prevented at a court office. It does not automatically postpone this service, disclosure, validity or deemed-event boundary. Unproved nonworking endpoints remain outside numeric qualification. | The ordinary optional-acceptance-service endpoint is Good Friday, April 3, 2026. RCJ Office closure cannot postpone this actual act merely because it prevents a different registry filing. Establish lawful completion on the controlling day or an actual variation. |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | The independently required trialDate is missing. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures. Both event branches must be established before selecting optional-acceptance-service. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures. | The independently required trialDate is missing. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures. Both event branches must be established before selecting optional-acceptance-service. |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Applicable event and branch
- An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures.
- Counting and boundary
- The ordinary 21-day acceptance period, subject to the trial commencement limit. Exclude the controlling event day under Order 3 rule 2(2). Count 21 following days. Intermediate weekends remain because this interval exceeds seven days.
- Required completion
- Accept the money by the prescribed written notice. Order 3 rule 4 addresses acts prevented at a court office. It does not automatically postpone this service, disclosure, validity or deemed-event boundary. Unproved nonworking endpoints remain outside numeric qualification.
- An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures. The result must identify optional acceptance service for the plaintiff accepting the sum paid into court. Confirm every actual event and completion before selecting the ordinary branch.
- This procedure concerns the plaintiff accepting the sum paid into court. Its controlling event is actual receipt of notice of the payment or increase. An increase and the trial date can affect the acceptance branch. Acceptance, receipt acknowledgement and withdrawal of payment are different procedures.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When may a plaintiff accept money paid into court in Northern Ireland?
Does twenty-one days permit acceptance after trial begins?
No. The ordinary provision also requires acceptance before the trial or hearing starts.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)What if several payments or an amended notice exist?
Use actual receipt of the last payment notice or amended notice specified by Order 22 rule 3.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)Who must receive the acceptance notice?
The plaintiff gives the prescribed Form 21 notice to every defendant to the action, not just the paying defendant.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)Does acceptance affect connected proceedings?
The rule addresses stays of the specified claims and relevant counterclaim branches. Establish the causes of action covered by the payment.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)Can a plaintiff accept only specified causes of action?
The rule addresses acceptance for all or specified causes covered by the payment. Establish the payment's scope.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)Does the actual last or amended notice matter?
Yes. A later payment or amended notice can supply the source's later receipt event.
Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1)Official sources and review
Provisions used (3)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 22, rule 3(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) 1980, Order 3 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) 1980, Order 64 rule 7 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |