Cookies
How cookies are used across services
A cookie is a small piece of data that’s stored on your computer, tablet, or phone when you visit a website. Most websites need cookies to work properly.
We use them to:
- measure how you use the service so it can be improved
- remember the notifications you’ve seen so that you’re not shown them again
- temporarily store the answers you give
Find out more about how to manage cookies (opens in a new tab).
Cookies used to measure website usage
We use Google Analytics software to collect information about how you use this service. We do this to help make sure the service is meeting the needs of its users and to help us make improvements, for example improving site search.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit
- how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the service
- what you click on while you’re visiting the service
We allow Google to use or share our analytics data. You can find out more about how Google use this information in their Privacy Policy.
You can opt out of Google Analytics if you do not want Google to have access to your information.
Google Analytics sets the following cookies:
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit the service by tracking if you’ve visited before | 2 years |
| _gat | Manages the rate at which page view requests are made | 10 minutes |
| _gid | Identifies you to the service | 24 hours |
Cookies used to turn our introductory message off
You may see a welcome message when you first visit the service. We’ll store a cookie so that your computer knows not to show this message again.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| seen_cookie_message | Saves a message to let us know that you’ve seen our cookie message | 1 month |
| cookies_policy | Stores cookies preferences | 1 year |
| cookies_preferences_set | Stores details about cookies preferences | 1 year |
Cookies used to measure application performance
We use Dynatrace Software Intelligence Platform to provide an Application Performance Monitoring Service to collect information about how you use HMCTS services. We do this to monitor HMCTS services in order to resolve issues within our services as well as collect data on how our services can be improved. HMCTS store information about:
- site performance
- website usage
- user behaviour
Information is presented within the Application Performance Monitoring service for the purposes detailed above. We do not use or share the information for any other purpose. We do not allow Dynatrace to use or share the information for any other purposes.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| dtCookie | Tracks a visit across multiple requests | When session ends |
| dtLatC | Measures server latency for performance monitoring | When session ends |
| dtPC | Required to identify proper endpoints for beacon transmission; includes session ID for correlation | When session ends |
| dtSa | Intermediate store for page-spanning actions | When session ends |
| rxVisitor | Visitor ID to correlate sessions | 1 year |
| rxvt | Session timeout | When session ends |
Appeal a benefit decision service
Cookies used to store the answers you’ve given during your visit (known as a ‘session’)
Session cookies are stored on your computer as you travel through a website, and let the website know what you’ve seen and done so far.
These are temporary cookies and are automatically deleted a short while after you leave the website.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| session | Carries details of your current session | When session ends |
| connect.sid | Carries details of your current session | When session ends |
| i18n | Identifies your preferred language | When session ends |
Apply for divorce service
Cookies used to store the answers you’ve given during your visit (known as a ‘session’)
Session cookies are stored on your computer as you travel through a website, and let the website know what you’ve seen and done so far.
These are temporary cookies and are automatically deleted a short while after you leave the website.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| connect.sid | Carries details of your current session | When session ends |
| session_ID | Keeps track of your answers | When you close your browser |
Cookies used to identify you when you come back to the service
We use authentication cookies to identify you when you return to the service.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| __auth-token | Identifies you to the service | When you close your browser |
Cookies used to make the service more secure
We set cookies which prevent attackers from modifying the contents of the other cookies we set. This makes the service more secure and protects your personal information.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| TSxxxxxxxx | Protects your session from tampering | When you close your browser |
| __state | Identifies you to the service and secures your authentication | When you Pragmas: When you close your browser |
Apply for probate service
Cookies used to store the answers you’ve given during your visit (known as a ‘session’)
Session cookies are stored on your computer as you travel through a website, and let the website know what you’ve seen and done so far.
These are temporary cookies and are automatically deleted a short while after you leave the website.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| connect.sid | Carries details of your current session | When session ends |
Cookies used to identify you when you come back to the service
We use authentication cookies to identify you when you return to the service.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| __auth-token | Identifies you to the service | When you close your browser |
Cookies used to make the service more secure
We set cookies which prevent attackers from modifying the contents of the other cookies we set. This makes the service more secure and protects your personal information.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| TS01842b02 | Protects your session from tampering | When you close your browser |
| __state | Identifies you to the service and secures your authentication | When you Pragmas: When you close your browser |
| _csrf | Helps protect against forgery | When you close your browser |
Money claims service
Cookies used to store the answers you’ve given during your visit (known as a ‘session’)
Session cookies are stored on your computer as you travel through a website, and let the website know what you’ve seen and done so far.
These are temporary cookies and are automatically deleted a short while after you leave the website.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| session_ID | Keeps track of your answers | When you close your browser |
| eligibility-check | Stores answers to eligibility questions | Ten minutes |
Cookies used to identify you when you come back to the service
We use authentication cookies to identify you when you return to the service.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| lang | Identifies your preferred language | When session ends |
Cookies used to make the service more secure
We set cookies which prevent attackers from modifying the contents of the other cookies we set. This makes the service more secure and protects your personal information.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| state | Identifies you to the service and secures your authentication | When session ends |
| ARRAfinnity | Protects your session from tampering | When session ends |
| _csrf | Helps protect against forgery | When you close your browser |
Family public law service
Cookies used to store the answers you’ve given during your visit (known as a ‘session’)
Session cookies are stored on your computer as you travel through a website, and let the website know what you’ve seen and done so far.
These are temporary cookies and are automatically deleted a short while after you leave the website.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| connect.sid | Carries details of your current session | When session ends |
| sessionKey | Protects your session using encryption | When you close your browser |
Cookies used to identify you when you come back to the service
We use authentication cookies to identify you when you return to the service.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| __auth-token | Identifies you to the service | When you close your browser |
Cookies used to make the service more secure
We set cookies which prevent attackers from modifying the contents of the other cookies we set. This makes the service more secure and protects your personal information.
| Cookie name | What this cookie is for | Expires after |
|---|---|---|
| TSxxxxxxxx | Protects your session from tampering | When you close your browser |
| __state | Identifies you to the service and secures your authentication | When you Pragmas: When you close your browser |
| X_CMC | Helps us keep track of your session | When you close your browser |