Guides › Public Services › Complaining About Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS)
Complaining About Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS)
You can complain to HM Courts and Tribunals Service about its service, such as delays or admin mistakes. It aims to reply within 10 working days, then a senior manager can review it, then the User Investigations Team. HMCTS cannot deal with complaints about judges or challenges to their decisions.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
How It Works
The Stages
Complain online, in person, by email, phone or letter; HMCTS aims to reply within 10 working days. Ask a senior manager for a review (10 working days), then appeal to the User Investigations Team (15 working days). After that, your MP can refer you to the Ombudsman; victims of crime can go directly. source
What It Cannot Do
Judges, magistrates and tribunal members do not work for HMCTS. Complaints about a judge go to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office; about a magistrate, to the local Conduct Advisory Committee. HMCTS cannot investigate complaints that challenge a decision: you may be able to appeal instead. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 10 working daysHMCTS repliesThen review and appeal stages
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Note your case number and the court or tribunal.
Step 2 of 5
Complain to HMCTS with details.
Step 3 of 5
Ask a senior manager to review it.
Step 4 of 5
Appeal to the User Investigations Team.
Step 5 of 5
For a judge's decision, get advice on appealing.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
HMCTS Complaints
Three stages.
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office
Complaints about a judge's conduct.
Your MP
Can refer a complaint about a government department to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Complaints do not stop court deadlines: keep to them.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service/about/complaints-procedure Checked 13 October 2026