Form N245: How to Vary a CCJ or Suspend a Warrant of Control (2026 Guide)
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) has been entered against you. Perhaps you were ordered to pay in full by a certain date, or in monthly instalments that you cannot afford. Perhaps a warrant of control has been issued and enforcement agents — bailiffs — are about to attend your home. Form N245 is the mechanism the court provides for you to do something about it.
Form N245 allows you to apply to the court to vary the payment terms of a CCJ (change how much you pay each month) or to suspend a warrant of control (stop bailiffs from enforcing the judgment). It is one of the most important forms available to defendants, and one of the most poorly understood.
This guide explains when to use Form N245, how to complete every section correctly, what evidence to provide, and what happens after you file it.
When Do You Need Form N245?
There are three main situations where Form N245 is the right form:
1. Varying a CCJ Payment Order
If you have a CCJ against you with a payment order (either a lump sum by a date or monthly instalments) and you cannot afford the payments as ordered, you can apply to vary the order. This means asking the court to change the terms — typically to reduce the monthly amount to something you can actually pay.
Common scenarios:
- You were ordered to pay £200/month but your income has dropped and you can only afford £50/month
- You were ordered to pay the full amount within 14 days but cannot afford a lump sum
- Your circumstances have changed since the judgment (job loss, illness, new dependant)
2. Suspending a Warrant of Control
If the claimant has obtained a warrant of control (using Form N323), enforcement agents (bailiffs) are authorised to attend your property and seize goods to the value of the judgment debt. Form N245 allows you to apply to suspend the warrant — meaning the bailiffs are told to stop — on the condition that you make regular payments.
This is often urgent. If you have received notice that bailiffs are coming, filing N245 promptly can stop them.
3. Varying a Previous Variation
If you previously varied the payment terms and your circumstances have changed again, you can file another N245 to vary the order a second (or third) time. There is no limit on the number of times you can apply, although the court will expect a genuine change of circumstances each time.
The Court Fee
The current fee for filing Form N245 is £14. This is one of the lowest court fees and has remained unchanged for several years.
If you cannot afford the £14 fee, you can apply for fee remission using Form EX160. Given that you are applying to reduce your payments because of financial hardship, you may well qualify.
Step-by-Step: How to Complete Form N245
Download Form N245 from the HMCTS forms page on GOV.UK. The form is four pages long and requires detailed financial information. Here is how to complete each section.
Section 1: Case Details
Enter the following at the top:
- Case number — the claim number from the original CCJ (e.g., A12YX345)
- Claimant’s name — the person or company who obtained the judgment against you
- Defendant’s name — your name, exactly as it appears on the judgment
Section 2: What You Are Applying For
Tick the appropriate box:
- Variation of a payment order — if you want to change the monthly payment amount
- Suspension of a warrant of control — if bailiffs have been instructed and you want to stop them
- Both — if a warrant has been issued and you also want to change the payment amount
Then state your offer of payment. This is the monthly amount you propose to pay. Be realistic — the court will compare this to your income and expenditure statement (below). An offer that is clearly too low given your disposable income will be rejected. An offer that is clearly unaffordable will also be rejected. The amount should reflect what you can genuinely sustain.
Section 3: Your Personal Details
Your full name, address, date of birth, and contact details. If you have changed address since the judgment was entered, make sure you update it here.
Section 4: Employment
State your employment status: employed, self-employed, unemployed, retired, or other. If employed, give your employer’s name and address and your job title. If self-employed, state the nature of your business.
Section 5: Bank Account and Savings
Declare all bank accounts, savings accounts, and investments. For each account, give the bank name, account type, and current balance. This is similar to the savings declaration on Form EX160 — be thorough and honest.
Section 6: Property
If you own property, provide details: the address, the estimated value, the outstanding mortgage, and your share (if jointly owned). If you rent, state this and give your monthly rent. If you live with family or friends and do not pay rent, state this.
Section 7: Income — This Is the Critical Section
List all your monthly income. The form provides boxes for:
- Wages/salary (take-home pay after tax)
- Overtime, commission, bonuses
- State benefits (itemise each benefit separately)
- Pension income
- Income from lodgers or tenants
- Any other income
Note: Unlike Form EX160, which asks for gross income, Form N245 typically asks for net monthly income (take-home pay). Read the form carefully and give the figure it asks for. If in doubt, provide both and let the court decide.
Section 8: Expenditure — Be Thorough
This is where you list every monthly outgoing. The form provides boxes for the main categories:
- Mortgage or rent
- Council Tax
- Gas and electricity
- Water
- Telephone (landline and mobile)
- Insurance (home, car, life)
- Food and housekeeping
- Travel (commuting costs, car expenses, public transport)
- Childcare
- Maintenance payments
- Other regular commitments
The space on the form is limited. This is one of the most common complaints. If you run out of space, attach a separate sheet headed “Continuation Sheet — Form N245 — Case No. [your case number]” and list additional outgoings there. The court accepts continuation sheets.
Section 9: Priority Debts
List any priority debts — these are debts where non-payment has serious consequences beyond a CCJ. Priority debts include:
- Rent or mortgage arrears (risk of losing your home)
- Council Tax arrears (can lead to imprisonment)
- Gas and electricity arrears (risk of disconnection)
- Child maintenance arrears
- HMRC debts (income tax, VAT)
- Magistrates’ court fines
For each debt, give the creditor name, the amount owed, and the monthly payment you are making. This is important because the court will take priority debts into account when deciding whether your offer is reasonable.
Section 10: Other Court Debts
If you have other CCJs or court-ordered debts, list them here with the case number, creditor, amount owed, and monthly payment. If you have multiple CCJs, this section helps the court see the full picture.
Section 11: Your Offer and Statement
State the monthly payment you are offering and explain briefly why you are asking for a variation. Keep it factual:
- “My income has reduced because I was made redundant in January 2026.”
- “I am now on Universal Credit and cannot afford the current payment of £150/month.”
- “I have a new dependent child and my outgoings have increased.”
The court does not need a lengthy narrative. It needs your figures and a clear, honest explanation of why the current order is unaffordable.
Section 12: Declaration
Sign and date the form. This is a statement of truth. The declaration confirms that the information you have given is correct. Providing false financial information to the court is a serious matter that can result in contempt proceedings.
What Evidence Should You Provide?
The form does not strictly require evidence to be attached, but including evidence significantly strengthens your application and speeds up the process. Consider attaching:
- Recent payslips (last three months) or evidence of benefit income
- Bank statements showing your income and outgoings
- Evidence of any change of circumstances (redundancy letter, medical evidence, benefit award letter)
- A list of all debts if the form does not have enough space
How to File Form N245
Send the completed form, the £14 fee (or EX160 fee remission application), and any supporting evidence to the court that made the original order. This is the court whose name appears on the CCJ. If the claim has been transferred to a different court, send it to that court instead.
You can file by post or by attending the court counter in person. If the matter is urgent (bailiffs are imminent), filing in person is advisable because you can ask the court to process it urgently.
What Happens After You File?
If you are applying to vary payment terms only:
The court sends a copy of your application to the claimant. The claimant has 14 days to respond — they can accept your proposal, reject it, or suggest alternative terms. If the claimant accepts, the court makes the variation order. If the claimant objects, the court decides — usually on paper without a hearing, based on the financial information you have both provided.
If you are applying to suspend a warrant of control:
The court will usually deal with the application more quickly, particularly if enforcement is imminent. The court may suspend the warrant immediately on an interim basis, pending the claimant’s response. If the court suspends the warrant, it will be on condition that you make the payments you have offered. If you miss a payment, the warrant can be re-activated without a further hearing.
The Court’s Decision
The court considers:
- Your income and expenditure as declared
- The amount of the judgment debt
- The claimant’s interest in being paid
- Whether your offer is reasonable given your means
- Your payment history (have you been making the existing payments?)
The court aims to balance two competing interests: the claimant’s right to enforce a judgment they have won, and the defendant’s right not to be required to pay more than they can afford. The court will not set payments so high that they cause genuine hardship, but equally will not set them so low that the claimant effectively never receives their money.
What If Your Application Is Refused?
If the court refuses your application, it will give reasons. You can apply to have the decision reconsidered at a hearing by filing Form N244 (application notice) requesting an oral hearing. This gives you the opportunity to present your case to a judge in person, which is particularly useful if your financial circumstances are complex.
Practical Tips
1. Be Honest About Your Figures
The court and the claimant will scrutinise your income and expenditure. If your figures do not add up — for example, if your declared income minus your declared expenditure leaves money unaccounted for — the court will either reject the application or set payments higher than you offered. Honesty is always the best approach.
2. Do Not Offer £1 Per Month Unless You Mean It
A £1/month offer is sometimes called a “token payment” and is appropriate in genuine cases of extreme hardship. But if your income and expenditure show that you have disposable income, offering £1/month will be rejected and may irritate the judge. Offer what you can genuinely afford, not the minimum you think you can get away with.
3. If Bailiffs Are Coming, Act Immediately
Once a warrant of control has been issued, you have limited time. Enforcement agents can attend your property with seven days’ notice (or less in some circumstances). If you receive notice of enforcement, file your N245 immediately and consider attending the court in person to request urgent processing. You can also contact the enforcement agent directly to tell them you have filed an N245 — many will pause enforcement voluntarily while the application is processed.
4. Use Continuation Sheets
The expenditure section is notoriously cramped. Do not try to squeeze everything into tiny boxes. Attach a clearly headed continuation sheet and list your outgoings properly. The court is used to receiving these.
5. Apply for Fee Remission
If you are applying to reduce payments because of financial hardship, there is a good chance you qualify for the £14 fee to be waived. File Form EX160 at the same time as your N245.
Form N245 vs Form N244: Which Do You Need?
This causes confusion. The short answer:
- Form N245 — to vary payment terms on a CCJ or suspend a warrant of control. This is the specific form designed for this purpose.
- Form N244 — for any other application to the court (set aside a judgment, adjourn a hearing, extend a deadline, etc.).
If you want to set aside the CCJ entirely (arguing it should never have been entered), you need Form N244, not N245. If you accept the CCJ but want to change the payment terms, you need N245.
From £3. Guidance on varying your CCJ payments.
Related Guides
- Form EX160: How to Get Help with Court Fees (Fee Remission)
- Form N244: How to Complete an Application Notice (2026)
- Form N225: How to Get Default Judgment in 2026
- How to Start a Money Claim in 2026: OCMC Replaces N1
- How to Enforce a County Court Judgment in 2026
eLitigant helps you prepare court documents that meet the standard judges expect. Chris is your legal document assistant — available around the clock, no appointments needed. Plans start from just £3. Visit eLitigant to get started, or ask Chris a question — from just £3, no account needed.
This guide was last updated in February 2026 and reflects the law and procedure in England and Wales. For the most current court forms and procedural guidance, always check the HMCTS website and the Civil Procedure Rules.