Editing Writ (section)

=== Rationalisation of writs ===
With the abolition of the [[Form of action|Forms of Action]] in 1832 and 1833, a profusion of writs was no longer needed, and one uniform writ came into use. After 1852, the need to state the name of the form of action was also abolished. In 1875, the form of writ was altered to conform more to the [[subpoena]] used in the Chancery. A writ was a summons from the Crown to the parties to the action, with on its back the substance of the action set out, together with a 'prayer' requesting a remedy from the court (for example, damages). In 1980, the need for writs to be written in the name of the Crown was ended. From that time, a writ simply required the parties to appear.<ref>Rules of the Supreme Court (Writ and Appearance) 1979 (Statutory Instrument 1979, No. 1716)[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1979/1716/made], discussed in House of Lords in 1980,[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1980/feb/07/rules-of-the-supreme-court-writ-and]</ref>

Writs applied to claims to be heard in one of the courts, eventually forming part of the [[High Court of Justice of England and Wales|High Court of Justice]]. The procedure in a [[County Court (England and Wales)|county court]], which was established by statute, was to issue a 'summons'.

In 1999, the [[Woolf Reforms]] unified most of the procedures of the Supreme Court and the county courts in civil matters. These reforms brought in the [[Civil Procedure Rules]]. Under these, almost all civil actions, other than those connected with insolvency, are now commenced by the completion of a 'Claim Form' as opposed to the obtaining of a 'Writ', 'Originating Application', or 'Summons' (see Rules 7 and 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules).