A Statement of Claim is a formal legal pleading that details a civil lawsuit, setting out the material facts of your claim, the legal basis, and the exact remedies you want from the court.

A Statement of Claim focuses strictly on defining the parameters of the lawsuit using a formal, objective, third-person format (“The Plaintiff,” “The Defendant”). While an Affidavit is an evidential document containing first-person sworn testimony, it is important to remember that these are two completely different documents.

Guide to Irish Court Pleadings: Statement of Claim Template

To align with standard Irish Court rules (Order 19 of the Rules of the Superior Courts) and avoid rejection by the Court Office, follow these strict drafting laws:

1. Third-Person Narrative: Unlike an affidavit, never use “I” or “my”. Refer to yourself exclusively as “The Plaintiff” and the opposing party as “The Defendant”.
2. Material Facts Only, No Evidence: State what happened, not how you plan to prove it. For example, write: “The Defendant agreed to terms by email dated 1st May” rather than “Attached is an email from the Defendant proving he agreed.” Evidence is presented later via affidavits or oral testimony.
3. Numbered Paragraphs: Keep every legal allegation short, direct, and confined to its own numbered paragraph to allow the Defendant to reply line-by-line.
4. Be Specific with Dates & Amounts: Avoid vague phrases. Use exact figures, contract dates, and explicit statutory references where applicable.

To match the structure, clarity, and downloadable formatting of professional standard template for an Irish High Court / Circuit Court Statement of Claim is outlined below.