English Judges and the Bar: Senior Masters, Costs Judge and Registrars, Masters and Registrars of the High Court, District Judges

Guidance on how to address Senior Masters, Cost Judge and Registrars, Masters and Registrars of the High Court, District Judges (Magistrates' Courts) and District Judges (Civil) both verbally and in writing.

Security note: For security reasons it is essential that correspondence to Judiciary - whether serving or retired at their private addresses should omit all reference to their Judicial rank. Plain or double envelopes must be used.

Senior Masters, Costs Judge and Registrars
Masters and Registrars of the High Court
District Judges (Magistrates' Courts)
District Judges (Civil)

Senior Masters, Cost Judge and Registrars

Address (in correspondence)	Dear...	Orally in Court
The Senior Master Queen's Bench Division	Senior Master	Senior Master
The Chief Chancery Master	Chief Master	Chief Master
The Admiralty Registrar	Admiralty Registrar	Admiralty Registrar
The Senior Costs Judge (formerly Chief Taxing Master)	Judge or Master	Judge or Master
The Chief Bankruptcy Registrar	Chief Registrar	Chief Registrar
In retirement	No title	No title

Please note: It is incorrect to address senior masters and registrars by their personal names such as: "Chief Master Doe" or "Senior Costs Judge Doe".

Masters and Registrars of the High Court

Address (in correspondence)	Dear...	Orally
Master Doe (irrespective of gender)	Master	Master
Mr (or Mrs) Registrar Doe	Registrar	Registrar
In retirement	No title	No title

Please note: Neither forenames nor initials should be used unless there is already a Master or Registrar with the same or similar surname.

District Judges (Magistrates' Courts)

The Access to Justice Act 1999 amalgamated the Provincial and Metropolitan Stipendiary Benches to form one unified jurisdiction throughout England and Wales and renamed Stipendiary Magistrates, District Judge (Magistrates' Courts).

Address (in correspondence)	Dear...	Orally
Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate)	Judge	Sir or Madam
Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates' Courts)	Judge	Sir or Madam
District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) Doe	Judge	Sir or Madam
In retirement	No title	No title

Please note: It is incorrect to omit the title in brackets; neither should The Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) or the Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) be addressed by their personal names - i.e. not "Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) Doe" or "Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) Doe)

District Judges (Civil)

Address (in correspondence)	Dear...	Orally
District Judge Doe	Judge	Sir or Madam
Senior District Judge Principal Registry of the Family Division	Judge	Sir or Madam
In retirement	No title	No title