Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Defence definition

What does Defence mean? In civil litigation, a defence is the defendant’s formal pleading that answers the claim and sets out the material facts and legal grounds relied on. It shapes the issues for disclosure, evidence and trial, and must be filed within the time limits set by court rules; failure may lead to default judgment (or decree). In England and Wales, under the Civil Procedure Rules, the defence is a statement of case responding to the particulars of claim. It should specify which allegations are admitted, denied or not admitted, explain any denial, and plead defences such as limitation or set-off....

Draft Defence template (England and Wales): personal injury claim alleging assault by police officer, including factual averments, denials, medical evidence position, damages Counter-Schedule and Statement of Truth

Published by a LexisNexis PI & Clinical Negligence expert

Precedents

At the County Court at [ INSERT ] or in the High Court of Justice [ [ SPECIFY DIVISION ] ] [ [ SPECIFY SPECIALIST COURT ] ] [ [ INSERT LOCATION ] District Registry ]

Claim No: [ Insert claim number ]

Between

[ Insert name and details of the Claimant ] — Claimant

and

[ Insert name and details of the Defendant ] — Defendant

Defence

Save as otherwise indicated, the paragraph numbering in this Defence corresponds to the numbering in the Particulars of Claim dated [ insert date ].
The matters set out at paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Particulars of Claim are admitted.
In relation to paragraphs 4 to 6, the Defendant will contend as follows:
1. [ Insert the account of the incident the Defendant will rely upon, e.g.: On the evening of 12 June 2025, PCs Black and Blue (‘the Officers’) were on foot patrol on Oxford Road in Manchester. ]

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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