In this guide
  1. The seal is what makes it an order
  2. Names, numbers and the case heading
  3. The operative paragraphs
  4. Rate, days, and where paper comes from

The seal is what makes it an order

A court order carries weight because of the seal and the signature on it, not because of the words alone. That makes the physical sheet worth guarding: a replacement means going back to the court office that issued it and requesting a further sealed copy. Working from a scan removes that risk completely, and it costs nothing extra to do.

Names, numbers and the case heading

The heading carries the case number, the court, the parties and the date. Those are the fields a reader checks against a file, so they cross over exactly as printed, including any middle name, initial or spelling that differs from elsewhere in your papers. Nothing in the heading is normalised, because the file it will be matched against was never normalised either.

The operative paragraphs

The body of an order says who must do what, by when, and on what condition. Those sentences are followed closely rather than freely, because a paraphrase that reads better can quietly widen or narrow an obligation. Where a term has no neat equivalent, the original wording is kept alongside, so a reader can see exactly what the court said and decide for themselves.

Rate, days, and where paper comes from

The rate is £25 for each side as issued, so schedules and endorsements are counted along with the order itself. Standard work runs 2–3 business days from a complete scan and express closes in 24 hours. Derby Register Office at Riverside Chambers, Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF issues certified copies of civil records rather than court papers, so a further sealed copy comes from the court office instead.