NI magistrates’ court fees rise 5% from 1 April 2026

From 1 April 2026, court users in Northern Ireland will see a 5% increase in most magistrates’ court fees, with further uplifts of 2% scheduled for 2027 and 2028. The Department of Justice says the plan starts this spring and is designed as a steady, inflation‑linked programme rather than a single jump. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

Before we talk numbers, let’s place you in the courtroom. In Northern Ireland, every criminal case begins in the magistrates’ court. District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts) also handle a wide range of civil and family matters, from debt recovery to domestic proceedings and youth cases. If you’ve ever heard of the “Youth Court”, that’s part of the magistrates’ court too. (nijac.gov.uk)

How do staged increases work in practice? Think of a fee that is £100 today. From 1 April 2026 it becomes £105. In April 2027, the 2% applies to £105 (about £107.10). In April 2028, another 2% applies to that new figure (about £109.24). The percentage doesn’t stack all at once; it’s applied year by year to the then‑current amount.

Not every fee is identical, and some have upper caps. The detailed numbers live in the official schedules, which are republished when fee orders change. If you’re budgeting for a case, use the latest published schedule as your baseline and then apply the 5%, 2%, 2% steps to estimate your likely cost from April 2026 onwards. (northernireland.gov.uk)

Why the change now? According to the Department of Justice, fees currently recover about 84% of the cost of running civil and family courts. The three‑year plan is meant to move the system closer to full cost recovery while keeping changes predictable. Officials estimate around £5.5m in additional income over three years and about £2.4m a year by 2028–29. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

What this means for you if money is tight: the “Help with Court Fees” policy is staying. If you’re on a low income or receive certain means‑tested benefits, you can apply to pay a reduced fee or no fee at all. Use Form ER1 (Application for exemption or remission of a court fee) and follow the guidance provided by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

There’s also an important clarification around sexual offences anonymity law. The fees order confirms that no fee is charged for applications made under section 3A(2) or (6) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 - the route used to ask a court to disapply or address reporting restrictions after a victim’s death. For learners, section 3A was added to the 1992 Act by the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

For family cases, expect a clearer price point for specific applications to find out a child’s whereabouts or to recover a child. The Department plans a prescribed magistrates’ court fee for these Family Law Act 1986 applications, aligning it with what’s already charged for comparable Children Order applications. That helps you forecast costs at the start of a case. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

Two final planning tips as you teach or prepare a case. First, remember the staged dates: the 5% uplift applies from 1 April 2026, with further 2% uplifts planned for 2027 and 2028. Second, build your estimate from the current schedule rather than guessing - then add the relevant percentage for the year you will file or apply. This avoids surprise costs late in the process. (justice-ni.gov.uk)

Where to check the official position. For the policy and its timings, the Department of Justice’s news notice and consultation response are your anchor documents. For the exact fee you’ll pay on or after 1 April 2026, use the updated schedules once they appear alongside the statutory rule on legislation.gov.uk. (justice-ni.gov.uk)