A Basic Guide to Civil Procedure in the Magistrates’ Courts provides basic information about civil procedure in the magistrates’ courts, and includes examples of the forms that are required for the processes, as well as a glossary of legal terms. It is intended for use by anyone who needs to understand the basics of civil procedure.

Titles in the LegalEase series help make the law easier to understand without losing its context. Essence books shed light, in a practical way, on the legal issues that candidate attorneys and legal practitioners encounter in practice. The books set out clear frameworks and contain practical tips and helpful hints. Written by experts, these books equip the reader with knowledge that can be applied in practice.

• Core concepts

• General structure of our courts

• Initial steps and ad hoc matters

• General principles of jurisdiction

• Jurisdiction of the magistrates’ court

• The parties

• The application process

• The action procedure: overview and layout

• The summons, particulars of claim and declaration

• Service of process and further steps

• Judgment at an early stage

• Summary judgment

• Interim procedures

• Settlement offers, tenders and security for costs

• Plea, counterclaim, replication, counterplea and close of pleadings

• Amendment of pleadings

• Preparation for trial

• The trial and judgment

• Provisional sentence summons

• Appeals and reviews

• Execution

• Debt collection and administration

• Legal costs

• Annexures

• Legal support staff

• Paralegals

• Students

• Candidate attorneys

• Academics

• Junior magistrates

• Junior advocates