Royal Courts of Justice

creditpunch

Has anyone gone BR in the Royal corts of Justice on the Strand in London?

Is it alot more formal and daunting than a normal county court would?

Any special experiences in this court?

spooforbrains

Oh, I can be the voice of experience!

I have attended the RCJ now three times regarding the same bankruptcy position.

The building is a little intimidating. It's massive, so just finding your way to the correct building in the courts can be difficult (although last time I was there I couldn't remember the way and the security guard at the front desk was very helpful).

However, the court where the bankruptcy is heard isn't much different from any other civil service office. You go into a room with a bunch of people milling around. You go to the desk and announce yourself, and the clerk will direct you to the petitioner's solicitor, who will want to have a quick chat before you go in. The first time, we had already agreed what was going to happen (we were going to request an adjournment) before even going in.

You enter when directed, sit in front of a master (who you just address as "Sir"), and if you've agreed on a course of action beforehand, you'll barely even have to speak. I didn't find the experience particularly unpleasant at all.

This is just my limited experience, however.

rog2

I was declared Bankrupt at the Royal Courts of Justice - although I have to say that mine was a Creditor (HMRC) Petitioned Bankruptcy so I had no choice in the venue.

Personally I did NOT find the experience 'Daunting' or 'Formal' in the least.

Having only been declared bankrupt the once, I have no way of comparing the Royal Courts of Justice experience to any other Court Experience.

I think, however, it could be quite easy to be 'overawed' by the majesty of the Court Building itself, although my Bankruptcy hearing was in the Thomas Moore building - approached by going through the main building.

The Court consisted of a 'waiting room' with the Court clerks and legal representatives - this was just like any other 'Government Office' - cold, impersonal - quite clinical really - and certainly without the 'Gothic Charm' of the main Court. The actual 'Courtroom' was quite small and consisted of a 'bench' counter where the Judge sat. I was literally two feet from the Judge, who was extremely pleasant. The judge actually shook my hand after the hearing and reccomended that I spent a bit of time looking around the Court (an offer, I hasten to add, which I declined).

Yes the Royal Courts of Justice can be a bit 'daunting' but only if you allow it to be. There are people in attendance who will escort you to your court and will, generally, do everything in their power to ensure that you are not overwhelmed by the grandeur of the surroundings.

For anybody who is likely to be going to the Royal Courts of Justice it is worth having a look at their website first:

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/rcj/history.htm

sallybananas

Hi there - don't really post but am an avid 'lurker' and this site has been invaluable, I can't thank people enough for all their advice they give out. Therefore when I saw you post I thought I might be able to shed some light on the court process in London

Anyway, BR in the Royal Courts... sounds as though it would be really scary but to be honest it was a lot less so than I imagined and not half as bad than some of the smaller county courts people have been to.

Arrived around 9.30am and waited outside the fees office until it opened at 10. Once the fees where paid, got the receipt and then had to go to another part of the High Courts (Thomas More building) and wait in a line to see one of the clerks at the window. She went through the forms (only 1 copy is needed) , looked at the receipt and checked everything was in order before asking me to swear on the bible etc.

I was then given a letter which said what would happen next... it basically said that if the bankruptcy was approved then unless I had anything urgent that needed looking at (assets at risk etc) or I was going to be uncontactable within the next few days then I would not speak to the OR office that day but would receive a phone call from them within 3 working days. If I hadn't heard from them within 3 days then to call them. The address and phone number was on the letter.

That was that and I was told to come back at 2.30 pm, to a different room and would then be told if the bankruptcy order had gone through. By then it was only 10.45am!!

Went back at 2.30 and waited in the room with around 30 other people, all in the same boat, and then a clerk came in and said they had all been approved and then she called everyones name in turn and gave them a copy of the bankruptcy order. That was it, pretty painless in the grand scheme of things and didn't have to see the judge, no-one did.

So that was it, not as scary as you think it is going to be;)


She then

creditpunch

Wow thanks all

I am a bit nervous because it's the RCJ but it seems as if there is no need to be. Can I ask how long ago you did the deed as now there is a new phone number on their br site
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/HMCSCourtFinder/Search.do?court_id=709

called 'Bankruptcy Packs' and another called 'Bankruptcy Court Registry' so I'm wondering if it's by appointment now? These have popped up in the last 3weeks and I can't seem to get through to them (sign of the times) to see.

CP

spooforbrains

I was there last week.

Mine was (is) a creditor petitioned bankruptcy though, so my experience may be different to yours.

sallybananas

November 10th 2008 was when I was there

indebtandworried

My OH and I will be there on Thursday and will post our thoughts and feelings when we are home. I don't envisage it to be too daunting from what I have read on this thread and others, and ours is not a creditor petitioned BR, we have been advised to go down this route by the CCCS. I'll be happy to share the experience with you all.

PixiePie

IMHO if you have to go BR The Royal Courts in London is probably one of the best places purely as the buildings are so amazing and its unlikely that most people would ever go otherwise - just take a pair of binoculars with you so you can see all the wonderful ceiling work - totally amazing!

It was very normal for me, the only slightly weird thing was the metal detector as I went in, but everyone seemed almost bored and very day to day so that made it a LOT less daunting.

Don't worry, it really was fine - they stopped flogging people many years ago :rotfl:

want_to_be_free_2

I was there 23.12.08 and it was just as sallybananas said

Go and pay your fees then on to see the clerk who checks everything then swear the oath and then came back at 2.30 with about 20 other people waited for them to call your name out and give you copies of your bankruptcy and that was that.:T

creditpunch

Thanks guys

That really helped and I think it will come in usefull to others I don't know what I am worried about I am creating scenarioes in my head just to worry myself more like I'm not stressed enough already. I was thinking things like there being a viewing gallery for tourist to watch the disgrace of societies delinquents with a stall selling hotdogs and tomatoes to throw - ok not that bad.

Thanks again
CP
:rotfl: