---
title: "Civil dispute application (ACAT): completion guide"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-acat-civil-dispute"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a46-form-acat-civil-dispute"
area_id: "A46"
kind: "form"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A46-X20260927-1", "A46-R20260922-2", "A46-R20260922-3"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-22"
---

# Civil dispute application (ACAT): completion guide

> Link to the ACAT printable civil dispute application and the online civil dispute form. The PDF file name includes AF-2021-28. The forms page says the civil dispute process has changed and points to a practice note.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-acat-civil-dispute  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

Link to the ACAT printable civil dispute application and the online civil dispute form. The PDF file name includes AF-2021-28. The forms page says the civil dispute process has changed and points to a practice note. That note was not opened.

## Key facts

- Kind: Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
- Practice area: [Debt Recovery & Civil Enforcement](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australian Capital Territory
- AI level: Yellow. You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-22
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-22 against the official form at acat.act.gov.au and the 2 authorities it cites, for Australian Capital Territory.

## When to use it

Use when starting a civil dispute in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal on the civil dispute application linked from the ACAT forms page. Do not use the application for review of a government decision, or the rental dispute application. The lawyer reads the current civil disputes page and Practice Note 3 of 2023 before filing.

## Used for these tasks

- [Check the claim pack against the current form, fee and registry rules before filing](https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/check-the-claim-pack-against-the-current-form-fee-and-registry-rules-bef.md)
- [Decide whether the claim is in time and in the right court](https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/decide-whether-the-claim-is-in-time-and-in-the-right-court.md)
- [Draft particulars of a liquidated claim](https://ailawframework.com/practice/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/draft-particulars-of-a-liquidated-claim.md)

## How AI may be used

AI may check a draft against the current form and list gaps or the wrong form. The lawyer writes the claim and checks every filing.

**AI may:**

- Check the draft against the current official form and list blank fields, missing attachments and inconsistent party names
- Flag when another form with the same number, from a different list on the forms page, has been selected
- List the filing details stated on the court or tribunal page that was opened

**AI must not:**

- Must not draft the particulars, the indorsement or any affidavit
- Must not decide which court has jurisdiction, the monetary limit, or whether the claim is in time
- Must not sign, file or serve the document

**The lawyer checks:**

- The current form is the one prescribed for this kind of claim
- Parties, heading and relief match the instructions
- Any fee and practice direction is checked against the current rules
- The court's or tribunal's current index is checked before assuming a generative-AI practice direction applies. None was stated on the page opened for this guide.

## Authorities

- [ACAT, Forms](https://www.acat.act.gov.au/fees-and-forms/forms)
- [ACAT, printable civil dispute application linked from the forms page](https://www.acat.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1853907/Civil-Dispute-Application-AF-2021-28-correct-font-size.pdf)

## Official form

[Official form](https://www.acat.act.gov.au/fees-and-forms/forms)

## Where this comes from

The official form is published by acat.act.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-22.

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/debt-recovery-and-civil-enforcement/form-acat-civil-dispute and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*