Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Litigant in person definition

What does Litigant in person mean? A litigant in person is a party—individual or organisation—who conducts court or tribunal proceedings without a solicitor or barrister/advocate. Often called a self‑represented or unrepresented party, they draft and file pleadings, serve documents, make submissions, and examine witnesses, while remaining subject to the same procedural rules, timetables and costs sanctions as represented parties. They may receive quiet assistance from a McKenzie Friend, who normally has no right of audience or to conduct litigation. The expression is used across civil, family and tribunal contexts. In England and Wales, “litigant in person” is defined for costs purposes in CPR 46.5 (reflected in...

Recovering litigant in person costs under CPR 46.5: procedure, two-thirds rule, rates, disbursements, fixed costs and McKenzie friends (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

This Practice Note reviews the key provisions of the civil procedure rules (CPR) and Practice Directions that regulate recovery of costs by a litigant in person (LIP). It outlines the mechanics of CPR 46.5: an LIP may recover, on summary or detailed assessment, the same categories of work and disbursements as a legally represented party, but recovery is limited to two-thirds of the reasonable sum that would be payable to a notional lawyer. It identifies the hourly rate available to LIPs where financial loss cannot be proved, and notes how the courts have been interpreting that position. It also considers circumstances involving ‘McKenzie Friends’ and the courts’ approach to any costs claimed for their assistance...

Abbreviations used in this Practice Note:

LIP—litigant in person
scco—Senior Court Costs Office

Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) provisions

Under CPR 46.5, LIPs are entitled to seek an order for costs...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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