NTCAT Application
Last updated · Reviewed by the Claim Done team · Not legal advice
In the Northern Territory, a claim up to $25,000 is decided by NTCAT, and ClaimDone drafts your NTCAT application in plain English for a flat fee of $97.
In the Northern Territory, residential tenancy disputes and a range of other civil and consumer matters are decided by the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT). A money or consumer claim up to $25,000 is dealt with by NTCAT as a small claim; larger claims, from $25,001 up to $250,000, are dealt with in the Local Court’s general civil jurisdiction. Getting your matter to the right place, with the right form and a clear statement of what you want, is what makes the difference between a smooth lodgement and a knock-back.
ClaimDone prepares your NTCAT application in plain English for a flat fee of $97. You tell us what happened and what you are asking for, and our Programmatic Algorithms turn your answers into a properly formatted application and a short supporting letter that sets out your claim. You then lodge it yourself and pay any tribunal or court fee directly to them.
What this is, and what it is not
ClaimDone is a self-help document service. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. We do not predict the outcome of your case and we do not represent you at a hearing. We take the difficulty out of the paperwork so your claim is clear, complete and ready to lodge.
What are the fees?
ClaimDone’s drafting fee is a flat $97. Any lodgement fee is set by the tribunal or court and paid separately. As at 1 July 2026, an NTCAT application fee for an individual is $84 for a claim under $2,000, $259 for a claim of $2,000 up to $10,000, and $518 for a claim over $10,000 (body corporates pay more). NTCAT will not start work until the fee is paid, and fee waivers may be available for financial hardship. A larger claim filed in the Local Court has its own fee set by the court.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who is the other party?
2. How much is at stake?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
What can I claim?
A small claim is for amounts up to $25,000. Claims from $25,001 up to $250,000 are dealt with in the Local Court’s general civil jurisdiction. NTCAT tenancy outcomes follow the limits in the tenancy laws.
How to lodge your NT application
- Confirm NTCAT is the right forum for your claim (a small claim up to $25,000, a residential tenancy matter, or another NTCAT matter). A larger claim goes to the Local Court.
- Gather your evidence: the contract, lease or invoice, photos, messages, receipts and a simple timeline of what happened.
- Answer ClaimDone’s questions in plain English and let our Programmatic Algorithms draft your application and supporting letter.
- Check the draft, add anything specific to your situation, and download it.
- Lodge your NTCAT Form 1 Initiating Application and pay the fee, or ask about a fee waiver.
- Serve a copy on the other party as the tribunal directs, and keep proof of everything you lodge and serve.
Time limits apply and vary with the type of dispute; in the Northern Territory many civil claims must be started within about three years, and some matters have shorter deadlines, so do not leave it too long. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I go to NTCAT or the Local Court in the Northern Territory?
A claim up to $25,000, including a residential tenancy dispute, is decided by NTCAT as a small claim. A larger claim, from $25,001 up to $250,000, is dealt with in the Local Court’s general civil jurisdiction. NTCAT also deals with matters such as body corporate and some consumer and agent disputes.
Which form do I use?
An NTCAT matter starts with the Form 1 Initiating Application. A larger Local Court claim uses the Court’s own civil claim form.
How much is the fee?
As at 1 July 2026, an NTCAT application fee for an individual is $84 for a claim under $2,000, $259 for a claim of $2,000 up to $10,000, and $518 for a claim over $10,000 (body corporates pay $105, $324 and $648). NTCAT will not process the application until the fee is paid, and fee waivers may apply.
What is the most I can claim?
The small claims limit is $25,000. Claims from $25,001 up to $250,000 are dealt with in the Local Court’s general civil jurisdiction.
How long do I have to apply?
Time limits apply and depend on the type of claim. In the Northern Territory many civil claims have a limitation period of around three years, and tenancy and some other matters have shorter deadlines. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm your own deadline before you apply.
Can I get my application drafted for me?
Yes. ClaimDone prepares your NTCAT application for a flat fee of $97. Our Programmatic Algorithms turn your plain-English answers into a properly formatted application and a supporting letter. You lodge it yourself and pay the tribunal or court fee separately. ClaimDone is a self-help document service, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice.
What changes when your case is properly prepared
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Tribunal Application drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Tribunal Application from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $97 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=tribunal-application. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Tribunal Application cost, and how long does it take?
$97 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Does Claim Done lodge the application with the tribunal or court?
No. Claim Done drafts the documents; you lodge them yourself and pay the tribunal's or court's own filing fee directly to it. The draft names the right tribunal or court and Act for your state.
What does Claim Done do that a free tribunal application template doesn't?
It sets out your claim to match your state's tribunal or court application (for a New South Wales debt, a Local Court statement of claim) under the right Act, with a witness statement drafted from your account (in New South Wales, the outline NCAT requires) and the documents you mention referred to as numbered exhibits. You read every word, change it or ask for a redraft (two are included), then lodge it yourself.