What initiates civil proceedings?

• A. Claim form initiates proceedings
• B. Defence responds to the allegations
• C. Mediation agreement
• D. Judgment by consent

Answer: (A)

Issuing a claim form starts civil proceedings. This formal document filed with the court identifies the parties, the basic facts, and the remedy sought, and it brings the dispute under the court’s jurisdiction. Once the claim form is served on the defendant, the case moves into the formal procedure with responses to come next, such as a defence or admission.

A defence is the defendant’s reply to the claim after service, so it doesn’t start proceedings. A mediation agreement is a settlement attempt that can happen before or during proceedings and doesn’t initiate the case. A judgment by consent is a settlement reached during or after proceedings and ends the dispute, not starts it.