In short
A county court judgment (CCJ) is a court order saying you owe money; it stays on the official register for 6 years unless paid within a month or set aside. If you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment and send the court proof, the entry is removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines; paid later, it is marked “satisfied”. To ask the court to cancel (set aside) a judgment you file Form N244. The fee is £321 on notice, or £126 by consent, under the EX50 schedule in force from 13 July 2026, and Help with Fees (apply online) may reduce it. For a default judgment, the court must set it aside in the cases listed in CPR 13.2, may set it aside under CPR 13.3, and must consider whether you applied promptly.
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Last reviewed: October 2026 · For use in England & Wales · eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm. Always check the current official form on GOV.UK before you file, and sign the statement of truth yourself.
✓ Checked against the official sources on 6 October 2026: GOV.UK’s County court judgments for debt, Civil Procedure Rules Parts 12, 13, 23, 27, 39 and 40 on justice.gov.uk, the EX50 civil court fees, the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines Regulations 2005 and TrustOnline’s published search fees. Bailiff-notice and credit-rating answers re-checked on 7 October 2026 against the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 (reg 6) on legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK’s CCJ and bailiff guides. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What is a CCJ?
A county court judgment (CCJ) is the court’s formal decision that you owe money. GOV.UK explains that you may get one if someone takes court action against you saying you owe them money and you do not respond to the claim. The judgment comes in the post and tells you how much you owe, how to pay (in full or in instalments), the deadline for paying and who to pay. GOV.UK’s advice is not to ignore it: you could be taken back to court and made to pay.
Most CCJs are default judgments. In 2025, 93% of the roughly 1.2 million judgments in England & Wales were default judgments (Ministry of Justice, Civil Justice Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2025). A default judgment is entered because no acknowledgment of service or defence was filed in time, not because a judge heard the arguments (CPR 12.3).
How to check whether you have a CCJ
- Your own credit report (free). Citizens Advice says you can get a free copy of your credit report from a credit reference agency, and a CCJ against you will show on it.
- The official register. CCJs are recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which Registry Trust keeps for the Ministry of Justice. You can search it through TrustOnline; GOV.UK says each search costs between £6 and £10. The result shows the court, case number, amount and date, and whether it is marked as satisfied. It does not show who made the claim; the court can tell you that.
- The court. If you know which court issued the judgment, contact it with the case number. You can find its details with GOV.UK’s court and tribunal finder.
Pay within one month and it can be removed
If you owe the money, GOV.UK says to pay the person or business named on the judgment (or their solicitor), not the court, and to keep proof that you have paid.
- Paid in full within one month of the judgment: write to the court with proof of payment and the entry is cancelled, so it no longer appears on the register (Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines Regulations 2005, reg. 11).
- Paid after one month: the entry is marked “satisfied”. It stays on the register for 6 years, but anyone searching can see that it has been paid.
If you want proof from the court, apply on Form N443 for a certificate of cancellation (paid within one month) or a certificate of satisfaction (paid later). The fee is £19 under the EX50 schedule in force from 13 July 2026. GOV.UK says cheques are made payable to ‘HMCTS’, or you can contact the court to pay by card. If the claimant will not confirm payment, send your own evidence, such as a bank statement: the court writes to them and, if they do not reply within 30 days, decides on your evidence.
If you cannot pay it all at once
You can ask the court to change the terms of the judgment, for example to pay in instalments, on Form N245. GOV.UK says to give details of your income and spending and what you can realistically afford. The fee for an application to vary a judgment or suspend enforcement is £16 under the EX50 schedule in force from 13 July 2026.
If the claimant asks the court for a warrant, GOV.UK’s CCJ guide says you will be given 7 days to pay before a bailiff visits, and that an N245 may stop the visit: if your offer is accepted, the warrant is stopped as long as you keep up the payments. The enforcement agent must also give you a notice of enforcement at least 14 clear days before taking control of your goods, unless the court orders a shorter period (Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, reg 6(1), as amended from 1 May 2026; Sundays, bank holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day do not count). GOV.UK’s bailiff guide also says bailiffs must usually give at least 14 days’ notice of their first visit. If you have more than one judgment and your total debts are under £5,000, GOV.UK explains you can ask for an administration order (Form N92) and pay all your debts to the court in one regular payment. GOV.UK also points to the Breathing Space scheme, which you apply for through a debt adviser.
Can a CCJ be set aside?
In some cases, yes. Setting a judgment aside means the court cancels it, and a judgment that is set aside is removed from the register (reg. 11). GOV.UK says you can apply to have a CCJ set aside if you do not owe the money, or if you did not receive, or did not respond to, the original claim.
Because most CCJs are default judgments, the rules that usually apply are in CPR Part 13. It sets out two kinds of case:
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| CPR 13.2: the court must set aside | Where the judgment was wrongly entered: the conditions for default judgment in CPR 12.3 were not met (for example, an acknowledgment of service or a defence had already been filed, or the time for filing had not run out), or the whole claim was paid before judgment was entered. |
| CPR 13.3: the court may set aside or vary | In any other case, where the defendant has a real prospect of successfully defending the claim, or there is some other good reason why the judgment should be set aside or varied, or why the defendant should be allowed to defend the claim. |
Is there a deadline to set aside a default judgment?
Part 13 does not set a fixed number of days. But under CPR 13.3(2), the matters the court must take into account include whether the application was made promptly. The rule does not define “promptly”.
An application under CPR 13.3 must be supported by evidence (CPR 13.4(3)). Question 10 of the N244 lets you attach a witness statement, rely on your statement of case, or set the evidence out on the form, with a signed statement of truth. The court may attach conditions when it makes an order (CPR 3.1(3)).
If the judgment was given at a hearing
Part 13 only covers default judgments. If judgment was given at a trial you did not attend, CPR 39.3 applies: the application must be supported by evidence, and the court may grant it only if you acted promptly when you found out about the judgment, had a good reason for not attending, and have a reasonable prospect of success at the trial.
On the small claims track, CPR 27.11 has its own rule for a party who was not at the hearing and had not told the court in writing that they would not attend: the application must be made no more than 14 days after the day notice of the judgment was served on them, and the court needs a good reason for not attending and a reasonable prospect of success at the hearing.
If the claimant agrees
If the claimant agrees that the judgment should be set aside, the parties can ask the court to make the order by consent (CPR 40.6). Where one of the parties is a litigant in person, a party applies to the court for the agreed order (CPR 40.6(5)); it must be drawn up in the agreed terms, marked “By Consent” and signed by the litigant in person (CPR 40.6(7)), and the court may deal with it without a hearing (CPR 40.6(6)). The fee for an application by consent is £126 rather than £321.
The form you use: N244
To ask the court to set aside a CCJ you use Form N244, the application notice, the general form for asking the court to make an order in an existing case. Our Form N244 guide walks through it box by box, and the full rules are in our guide to setting aside a default judgment. The questions that matter most for a CCJ:
- Question 3 asks what order you want and why. GOV.UK’s guidance gives the example ‘to set aside a judgment against me because…’.
- Question 4 asks whether you have attached a draft of the order you are applying for.
- Question 5: GOV.UK says most applications need a hearing that you will be expected to attend, and asks you to list in a covering letter any dates in the next 6 weeks when you are unavailable.
- Question 10 is your evidence, with the statement of truth.
Where to send it. The general rule is the court where the claim started, or the court it was transferred or sent to; if the claimant has started enforcement, the court dealing with the enforcement (CPR 23.2). In many fixed-sum claims against an individual, the application is then sent to the defendant’s home court (CPR 13.4(1)).
Serving it. A copy must be served as soon as practicable after it is filed and at least 3 days before the court deals with it, together with your evidence and any draft order (CPR 23.7). Question 9 asks who you want the court to send a copy to. GOV.UK says you need one copy for each party to be served and one for the court.
The hearing. GOV.UK’s CCJ guidance says you will have to go to a private hearing at the court, and that if you do not go, your application will be rejected and you will have to pay the amount in the judgment.
Court fees for a CCJ
| Situation | Form | Court fee | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set aside a default judgment, with the claimant told (on notice) | N244 | £321 | No fixed number of days, but the court considers whether you applied promptly (CPR 13.3(2)) |
| Set aside by consent (the claimant agrees) | N244 | £126 | As above |
| Set aside a small claims judgment given at a hearing you did not attend | N244 | £321 on notice | 14 days after notice of the judgment is served (CPR 27.11) |
| Change how you pay (vary the judgment), or suspend enforcement or a warrant | N245 | £16 | GOV.UK’s CCJ guide: 7 days to pay before a bailiff visit. Goods cannot normally be taken until at least 14 clear days after a notice of enforcement (TCG Regulations 2013, reg 6) |
| Certificate of cancellation or satisfaction | N443 | £19 | Cancellation needs payment in full within one month of the judgment |
Fees under the EX50 schedule in force from 13 July 2026. If an application by consent is refused and ordered to be made on notice, the balance of the fee has to be paid (EX50). Searching the register through TrustOnline is not a court fee: GOV.UK puts it at £6 to £10 a search.
Can I get help with the court fee?
Help with Fees (apply online) can reduce or remove a court fee if you are on a low income or qualifying benefits. GOV.UK says you can apply before or after you pay, and get money back if you paid in the last 3 months and were eligible when you paid.
Free help
- Citizens Advice: free advice on CCJs, debt and how a judgment affects your credit rating.
- Support Through Court: volunteers who support people facing the civil and family courts without a lawyer. They explain procedures, help complete court forms and talk you through speaking in court. Free.
- Advocate: the Bar’s pro bono charity, which looks for a volunteer barrister to advise or represent you. It is free but has rules: it cannot help if your deadline is less than three weeks away, if you qualify for legal aid or if you can afford legal help, and it cannot guarantee a barrister.
- Help with Fees (apply online): can reduce or remove the court fee.
How eLitigant helps
eLitigant supports litigants in person. Tell Chris what has happened and Chris drafts the N244, the witness statement that supports it and a draft order from your own facts, to a professional standard, in minutes. You check, sign and file. Whether to apply, and on what basis, stays your decision.
If you are the claimant
If the defendant has not responded to your claim, you ask for default judgment on Form N225 (a fixed amount) or Form N227 (an amount for the court to decide) (CPR 12.4).
Frequently asked questions
How long does a CCJ stay on my record?
A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years. It is removed early if you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment and send the court proof, or if the court sets the judgment aside. If you pay after one month, it stays for the 6 years but is marked as satisfied.
Does a CCJ affect my credit rating?
It can. GOV.UK says a CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years, and that banks and loan companies use this information to decide whether to give you credit or loans. If you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment you can get it removed from the register; if you pay later, it is marked “satisfied” but stays for the 6 years.
What happens if I ignore a CCJ?
GOV.UK says not to ignore it: you could be taken back to court and forced to pay. If you do not pay as ordered, the person or business you owe may threaten you with bailiffs or ask the court to take action against you, such as a deduction from your earnings or freezing money in your bank account. If you cannot pay in one go, Form N245 asks the court to let you pay by instalments.
Can I get a CCJ removed if I pay it?
Only if you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment: write to the court with proof of payment and the entry is cancelled. Paid later, it is marked satisfied rather than removed. Form N443 gets you a certificate of cancellation or satisfaction; the fee is £19 under the EX50 schedule in force from 13 July 2026.
How do I check if I have a CCJ?
Get a free copy of your credit report from a credit reference agency, search the official register through TrustOnline (GOV.UK says each search costs between £6 and £10), or contact the court with the case number. The register does not show who made the claim; the court can tell you.
What form do I use to set aside a CCJ?
Form N244, the application notice, with evidence in support such as a witness statement. The fee is £321 on notice, or £126 by consent, under the EX50 schedule in force from 13 July 2026. Our Form N244 guide explains each box.
Is there a deadline to set aside a CCJ?
For a default judgment, CPR Part 13 sets no fixed number of days, but the court must consider whether you applied promptly (CPR 13.3(2)). If judgment was given at a small claims hearing you did not attend, CPR 27.11 requires the application within 14 days after notice of the judgment was served on you.
Can I get help paying the court fee?
Yes, if you qualify. Help with Fees (apply online) can reduce or remove a court fee. GOV.UK says you can apply before or after paying, and get money back if you paid in the last 3 months and were eligible when you paid.