County Court Judgments (CCJs): A Complete Guide

A county court judgment (CCJ) is a court order telling you to repay a debt, usually made because a claim against you went unanswered. Here’s how CCJs work, how long they last, and what you can do if you have one.

Author: Paul Severs, Consultant Solicitor, Setfords | Last updated: 14th October 2026 | Read time: 12 minutes

A County Court Judgment, or CCJ, is a formal court order made against you when someone takes you to the county court over an unpaid debt and you either don’t respond in time or the court decides against you. This guide covers what a CCJ is, how to get one removed from your credit file, and how to dispute or set one aside if you don’t think it’s fair.

Key takeaways

• A CCJ is a court order made when a creditor takes you to court over a debt, and you either don’t respond in time or the court rules against you.
• A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, and on your credit file, for six years unless it’s cancelled or set aside.
• If you pay in full within one month of the judgment, you can apply to have the CCJ removed from the register.
• Paying after one month marks the CCJ as “satisfied”, but it stays on your record for the full six years. 
• If you didn’t know about the claim, or you have a defence, you may be able to apply to have the judgment set aside.

What is a CCJ?

A CCJ is a court order made against you in England and Wales when someone takes you to the county court over money they say you owe. Most CCJs are made because the person being sued didn’t respond to the claim in time. Others are made after a hearing where the court decides in the creditor’s favour.

Once made, a CCJ is entered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. Lenders, landlords and some employers search this public record. This means a CCJ can make it harder to get credit, rent a home or pass certain job checks.

A CCJ isn’t a criminal record. It means a court has confirmed that you owe the money and has ordered you to pay it. You can read the government’s guidance on county court judgments here.

What is the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines?

The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines is the official public record of CCJs and certain other court orders in England and Wales. It’s run by the Registry Trust, a not-for-profit organisation, and anyone can search it. Credit reference agencies use it to update credit files.

Part 12 of the Civil Procedure Rules sets out when a default judgment can be entered if you don’t respond to a claim. Part 13 sets out when and how a default judgment can be set aside.

These are the general rules, not fixed outcomes for every case. Your solicitor can confirm how they apply to you.

How does a CCJ happen?

A CCJ is the end point of a court process that usually starts with an unpaid bill or debt. Here are the general steps:

1. You receive a claim form.
The person or business you owe money to (the claimant) starts a money claim in the county court. Many claims are made online through Money Claim Online. You’re sent a claim form showing who is claiming, how much, and a claim number.

2. You have 14 days to respond.
From the date the claim form is served, you can pay the full amount, admit the debt and offer a payment plan, or defend the claim. If you file an acknowledgment of service, you get 28 days from service to file your defence.

3. No response means default judgment. 
If you don’t respond, the claimant can ask the court for a default judgment. This is made without a hearing, based only on the fact that you didn’t reply in time. It results in a CCJ. 

4. If you defend, the court decides.
If you file a defence, the case goes through the usual court process and may reach a hearing. If the court finds in the claimant’s favour, it enters judgment against you. This is also a CCJ.

What happens when a CCJ is made? 

The court sends you a judgment notice confirming how much you owe and how to pay. This is either a single lump sum by a set date, or monthly instalments. The CCJ is then entered on the register. 

What does a CCJ letter look like? 

Most money claims in England and Wales are handled by the Civil National Business Centre (CNBC), part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service, based in Northampton.

You may receive two main documents: 

• A claim form. This starts the claim. It names the claimant, sets out the amount claimed and gives a claim number. It comes with a response pack explaining your options. 
• A judgment notice. This confirms a judgment has been made against you, how much you owe, and how and when to pay. 

If you’re unsure whether a letter is genuine, contact the court using the contact details on gov.uk, not a phone number printed on the letter. Have the claim number to hand. 

How long does a CCJ stay on your credit file? 

A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, and on your credit file, for six years from the date of the judgment. After six years, it’s removed automatically, whether or not you’ve paid it. 

There are two ways a CCJ can come off your record sooner. Either you paid it in full within one month and applied for a certificate of cancellation, or the court sets the judgment aside. 

Does the debt disappear after six years? 

No. The register entry drops off, but the debt is still owed. A creditor would normally need the court’s permission to enforce a judgment that is more than six years old.  

How do I check if I have a CCJ? 

You can check whether you have a CCJ in a few ways: 

• Search the official register. The Registry Trust runs the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines at trustonline.org.uk. An online search costs £10 and covers all registers over the last six years.
• Check your credit report. A CCJ will appear on your credit file with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, usually with a note of whether it’s been satisfied. Each agency gives you access to your statutory credit report free of charge.
• Look out for court post. If you’ve moved recently or missed post, check the register directly rather than assuming you’d have been told.

If you find a CCJ you didn’t know about, you may be able to apply to have it set aside. See how to set aside a CCJ below. 

How do I find out who registered a CCJ against me? 

Finding a CCJ you don’t recognise is unsettling, but you can trace where it comes from. The register entry shows the court that made the judgment, the claim number, the amount and the date. 

Contact the court named on the entry and quote the claim number. The court can tell you who the claimant is and send you a copy of the judgment. Your credit report may also name the creditor. 

The claimant’s name may not be familiar. Debts are often sold to collection agencies, which then bring the claim in their own name. 

How do I pay a CCJ? 

You pay the claimant, or their solicitors, directly. You don’t pay the court. Your judgment notice tells you how much to pay, who to pay and whether it’s a lump sum or instalments.

Keep proof of every payment. If you can’t afford the amount ordered, you can ask the court to change the payment terms.

Once you’ve paid in full, apply to the court using form N443:

• Paid within one month of the judgment: apply for a certificate of cancellation. The CCJ is removed from the register.
• Paid after one month: apply for a certificate of satisfaction. The CCJ is marked as paid but stays on the register for six years.

The court charges a £19 fee for the certificate. Don’t rely on the claimant to tell the court you’ve paid. Applying yourself makes sure the register is updated.

What happens if you don’t pay a CCJ?

An unpaid CCJ stays on the register as “unsatisfied” for six years. The claimant can also ask the court to enforce the judgment. Each of these steps needs a separate court application:

• Warrant of control. County court enforcement agents (bailiffs) can visit your home to take goods to sell. Judgments of £600 or more can be transferred to the High Court for enforcement by High Court enforcement officers.
• Attachment of earnings order. Your employer takes regular payments from your wages and pays them to the claimant.
• Charging order. The debt is secured against your property, which means it’s repaid when the property is sold.
• Third party debt order. Money in your bank account is frozen and used to pay the debt.

If you’re struggling to pay, contact the claimant early to agree a plan.

Can a CCJ be removed from your credit file?

Yes, in three situations:

• You paid in full within one month. Apply for a certificate of cancellation and the CCJ is removed from the register. Your credit file should update to match.
• The court sets the judgment aside. The CCJ is cancelled, and the case reopens. See the section below.
• Six years have passed. The CCJ is removed automatically.

If you pay after one month, the CCJ isn’t removed. It’s marked “satisfied” and stays on your record for the full six years. Satisfied is not the same as removed.

Found a CCJ you didn’t expect?

Speak to our team for a confidential, no-obligation conversation about the next steps and if we can help.

Get in touch

How do I set aside a CCJ?

Setting aside a CCJ means asking the court to cancel the judgment and reopen the case. It’s different from paying the debt, which only marks the CCJ as satisfied.

When can a CCJ be set aside?

If the CCJ was a default judgment (made because you didn’t respond), there are two potential situations where it may be able to be set aside:

• The judgment was wrongly entered. For example, it was entered before your time to respond had run out. In these cases, the court must set it aside. 
• There’s a good reason for the case to be heard. The court can set the judgment aside if you have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim, or there’s some other good reason. It will also consider whether you applied promptly after finding out about the judgment. 

A common example is a claim sent to an old address, so you never knew about it.

How do I apply?

You apply using form N244, together with a witness statement explaining why the judgment should be set aside. Your statement should also set out your defence to the claim.

The court fee is £321 if the application is decided at a hearing, or £126 if it’s made without a hearing or with the claimant’s agreement.

There’s no fixed deadline, but the court expects you to act promptly once you know about the judgment. Delay can count against you.

What happens next?

The application is usually decided at a short hearing. If it’s successful, the CCJ is set aside, and the case continues as if the default judgment had never been made. You then have the chance to defend the claim.

If the application is refused, the CCJ stays on the register. You may still be able to appeal the refusal or agree payment terms with the claimant.

Can I appeal a CCJ made after a hearing?

Setting aside applies to default judgments. If the CCJ was made after a hearing you took part in, the route is an appeal instead.

You usually need to file an appeal within 21 days of the decision, and you’ll normally need permission to appeal. You’ll need to show that the judge made a legal or procedural error, not simply that you disagree with the outcome.

Because the time limits are strict, get advice as soon as possible if you’re considering an appeal.

When to speak to a solicitor

Our solicitors can help if:

• You’ve found a CCJ you didn’t know about
• You believe the debt isn’t yours, or the amount is wrong
• You want to apply to set aside a default judgment
• You’ve paid within one month and need help applying for a certificate of cancellation
• You’re considering an appeal against a judgment made at a hearing
• A claimant is taking enforcement action and you’re unsure of your options

FAQs

Can I get a mortgage with a CCJ?

It’s harder, but not always impossible. Some lenders will consider applicants with a satisfied CCJ, particularly an older one or a small amount. You may face higher rates or need a specialist lender.

Does a CCJ affect my partner or family?

A CCJ is recorded against the person named in the judgment. It doesn’t appear on a partner’s or family member’s credit file unless they were also named in the claim.

What’s the difference between a satisfied CCJ and a removed CCJ?

A satisfied CCJ has been paid, but it stays on the register, and your credit file, for six years. A removed CCJ has been taken off the register entirely. This happens through a certificate of cancellation, a successful set-aside application, or once the six years have expired.

Can a CCJ be removed before six years without paying?

Not through payment alone. The main route is applying to set aside the judgment, for example, if you weren’t properly notified of the claim.

Is a council tax liability order a CCJ?

No. A liability order is made by the magistrates’ court, not the county court, and it isn’t entered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. Your council can still take enforcement action to recover the arrears.

About the author:

This article is general information about County Court Judgments in England and Wales and is not legal advice. The law and timescales can change, and every situation is different, so please speak to a qualified solicitor about your circumstances.