A “general inflationary uplift” will be implemented from 1 April 2026, with a five per cent increase in the first year and then two per cent increases in the two following years.

There will also be a restructuring of the fees payable to enforce a money judgment in the Enforcement of Judgments Office and the introduction of new fees in the Small Claims Court.

The Department of Justice says the increases will generate an additional £5.5 million for the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) over the three-year period and £2.4 million each year by 2028-29.

The changes are aimed at achieving 100 per cent recovery of the costs associated with running the civil and family courts. The fees currently charged recover 84 per cent of costs.

Existing access to justice safeguards, which allow court users on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits to pay a reduced court fee or have it waived, will remain in place.

A consultation on the proposed fee increases took place last year.