Not legal advice — but here’s how to prepare. This checklist helps you organise what a solicitor will need. It does not assess your claim and does not stop any limitation period running.
1. The agreement
The claim starts with what was agreed. Gather every document that could form part of the contract, in date order:
- The signed contract, if there is one — and check whether it was signed as a deed (witnessed, and stating it is a deed), which changes the time limit from six years to twelve.
- Quotes, estimates, proposals and tenders.
- Purchase orders and order confirmations.
- Both sides' standard terms and conditions, and the sequence in which they were sent.
- Emails or messages in which terms were agreed or changed.
- Any written variations, change orders or side letters.
- Notes of conversations where something was agreed, with the date and who was present.
If there was no written contract, write a one-paragraph account of what was agreed, when, and how (in person, by phone, by email) before your memory fades further.
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The remaining 6 sections
- 2. Performance: what was actually done
- 3. Money
- 4. Communications and chronology
- 5. The other side
- 6. Your objectives and constraints
- 7. One-page summary for your first meeting
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