A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order made against you when someone has taken you to the county court over money they say you owe, and either you didn’t respond in time, or the court decided in their favour. Read our full guide to county court judgments (CCJs) here.

How long does a CCJ stay on my 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. The only exceptions are where it is cancelled or set aside sooner.

If I pay the CCJ, will it be removed?

Only if you pay in full within one month of the judgment date. You can then apply to the court for a certificate of cancellation, and the CCJ will be removed from the register. If you pay after one month, the CCJ is marked “satisfied” but stays on the register for the full six years.

What impact can a CCJ have on my life?

A CCJ on your record can affect your life in several ways. You might: Struggle to get a mortgage or remortgage Be declined for loans, credit cards or phone contracts Be turned down for some jobs that involve credit checks, for example, in financial services Face enforcement action if the CCJ is unpaid If a CCJ is unpaid, the claimant can take steps to enforce it. These include sending county court bailiffs to take goods, or transferring judgments of £600 or more to the High Court for enforcement. If you think the CCJ shouldn’t be on your record, speak to a solicitor about getting it removed.

Why do I have a CCJ I didn't know about?

Many people only find out about a CCJ when they’re turned down for credit, or when they check their credit report with an agency such as Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. The most common reason is that the claim was sent to an old address. For example, you may have moved house without updating your details with a service provider, and a final bill went unpaid. If you don’t respond to a claim form within 14 days, the claimant can ask the court for a default judgment, without you ever knowing the claim existed. If this has happened to you, you may be able to apply to have the judgment set aside. A CCJ removal solicitor can assess whether you have grounds and make the application for you. Get in touch for more information.

Can I just pay the CCJ?

Not before getting advice. Paying after one month won’t remove the CCJ from your record. And depending on your circumstances, you may not owe as much as the CCJ says, or anything at all. Speak to a solicitor before you pay.

Why use a CCJ removal solicitor?

Getting a CCJ set aside involves a formal court application, a witness statement and, often, a hearing. Mistakes or delays can weaken your case, which is why it’s recommended that you work with an experienced solicitor. Unlike unregulated removal companies, our solicitors have years of experience in CCJ removals and can represent you in court.

How can I get my CCJ removed?

The main route is to apply to the court to have the judgment set aside. This is possible if the judgment was wrongly entered, or if you have a real prospect of defending the claim or some other good reason. There’s no fixed deadline, but you should act promptly once you know about the CCJ, as delay can affect the court’s decision. If you paid the debt in full within one month of the judgment, you can instead apply for a certificate of cancellation.

Can the claimant agree to remove a CCJ?

Yes. In some cases, the claimant may agree to the judgment being set aside, and the court can then make a consent order. We can negotiate with the claimant on your behalf.

What are my chances of getting a CCJ removed?

It depends on how the judgment was made, whether you received the claim, whether you have a defence and how quickly you act. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your chances before you decide whether to go ahead.

What is a certificate of satisfaction?

If you’ve paid a CCJ in full after the one-month window, you can apply to the court using form N443 for a certificate of satisfaction. This marks the CCJ as paid on the register, but doesn’t remove it.

What is a claim form?

A claim form is the court document that starts legal proceedings against you. You normally have 14 days from service to respond.

What is a default judgment?

A default judgment is a judgment entered against you because you didn’t respond to a claim form in time. Most CCJs that people didn’t know about are default judgments, and these can sometimes be set aside. Get in touch to discuss your case.

Can you help if a CCJ has been registered against my business?

Yes. We help businesses challenge CCJs as well as individuals. Get in touch to discuss your case.

CCJ Removal Solicitors | Set Aside A CCJ

Remove or Set Aside a CCJ With a Regulated Solicitor

CCJ removal is where a County Court Judgment is taken off the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. It’s done by way of an application to set aside that CCJ, which leads to it being removed from your credit file.

There are three main routes to CCJ removal. The first route is to agree a settlement and a consent order with the Claimants. This should guarantee that the CCJ is set aside and removed, but still requires the court’s approval. The second route is where a settlement cannot be reached, and an application is made on a contested basis. In these cases, a court hearing will take place, and the court decides whether the CCJ should be set aside (removed). The third route applies if you paid the debt in full within one month of the CCJ, where you can ask the court to cancel it.

Not every CCJ can be removed. But if you didn’t receive the claim form, or you have a defence to the claim, you may have grounds to remove it.

A CCJ can affect far more than your credit score. It can make it harder to get a mortgage, a loan or a phone contract, and it can prevent you from being offered a job in some sectors. Acting quickly gives you the best opportunity to have the CCJ removed.

At Setfords, our solicitors help individuals and businesses in England and Wales challenge CCJs. We can advise on whether your CCJ can be removed by consent, make the application to the court on a contested basis and represent you at the hearing. As solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, we can act for you on the court record, which unregulated CCJ removal companies are legally unable to do.

Get in touch, or read on to find out how our CCJ removal service works. For a general overview of how CCJs work, see our guide to county court judgments.

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How can our solicitors help you remove a County Court Judgment?

Setting aside a CCJ and CCJ removal advice
Setting aside a CCJ and CCJ removal advice
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” on the register.
There are broadly two situations where the court can set aside a judgment made in default (that is, because you didn’t respond to the claim):
- The judgment was wrongly entered. For example, the judgment was entered before your time to respond had run out. In these cases, the court must set it aside.
- You have a good reason to defend the claim. The court can set the judgment aside if you have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim, or there is some other good reason why the case should be heard. The court will also consider whether you applied promptly once you found out about the judgment.
There’s no fixed deadline for applying to set aside a default judgment, but delay can count against you, so it’s important to act as soon as you find the CCJ. If your CCJ was made after a hearing you took part in, the route is an appeal rather than a set-aside application, and strict time limits apply.
Talking to the claimant and the court
Talking to the claimant and the court
The claimant is the person or organisation that obtained the CCJ against you. In some cases, we can negotiate with the claimant or their solicitors to agree that the judgment should be set aside. That agreement can then be put to the court as a consent order, usually without the need for a contested hearing.
If the court needs to be contacted, we can also handle that on your behalf.
Evidence for your application
Evidence for your application
To set aside a CCJ, the court needs a formal application (form N244) supported by a witness statement. The statement explains why the judgment should be set aside and, where relevant, what your defence is. Evidence matters, such as proof that you had moved address before the claim was sent. We’ll gather the paperwork, prepare the application and make sure nothing is missed.
Drafting a defence
Drafting a defence
Many people don’t realise they have a valid defence to the original claim. If the judgment is set aside, the case usually reopens and you’ll need to defend the claim. Our solicitors can draft your defence and act for you in the proceedings that follow.
Court hearings
Court hearings
Going to court can be stressful. Having the right lawyer by your side makes a real difference. Our CCJ removal solicitors can represent you at the hearing of your application to set the judgment aside.

Setting aside a CCJ and CCJ removal advice

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” on the register.

There are broadly two situations where the court can set aside a judgment made in default (that is, because you didn’t respond to the claim):

The judgment was wrongly entered. For example, the judgment was entered before your time to respond had run out. In these cases, the court must set it aside.
You have a good reason to defend the claim. The court can set the judgment aside if you have a real prospect of successfully defending the claim, or there is some other good reason why the case should be heard. The court will also consider whether you applied promptly once you found out about the judgment.

There’s no fixed deadline for applying to set aside a default judgment, but delay can count against you, so it’s important to act as soon as you find the CCJ. If your CCJ was made after a hearing you took part in, the route is an appeal rather than a set-aside application, and strict time limits apply.

Talking to the claimant and the court

The claimant is the person or organisation that obtained the CCJ against you. In some cases, we can negotiate with the claimant or their solicitors to agree that the judgment should be set aside. That agreement can then be put to the court as a consent order, usually without the need for a contested hearing.

If the court needs to be contacted, we can also handle that on your behalf.

Evidence for your application

To set aside a CCJ, the court needs a formal application (form N244) supported by a witness statement. The statement explains why the judgment should be set aside and, where relevant, what your defence is. Evidence matters, such as proof that you had moved address before the claim was sent. We’ll gather the paperwork, prepare the application and make sure nothing is missed.

Drafting a defence

Many people don’t realise they have a valid defence to the original claim. If the judgment is set aside, the case usually reopens and you’ll need to defend the claim. Our solicitors can draft your defence and act for you in the proceedings that follow.

Court hearings

Going to court can be stressful. Having the right lawyer by your side makes a real difference. Our CCJ removal solicitors can represent you at the hearing of your application to set the judgment aside.

Setfords' Approach to CCJ Removals

Why choose Setfords’ CCJ removal service?

Regulated solicitors, not a removal company. Some CCJ removal services are not regulated law firms. Our CCJ removal solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, can represent you in court, and are bound by professional duties to act in your best interests.

Honest advice from the start. We’ll tell you whether your CCJ is likely to be removed before you commit to anything.

Clear, upfront fees. You’ll know what to expect before work begins.

Experienced litigation solicitors. Your case is handled personally by an experienced solicitor from start to finish.

Help wherever you are. Our flexible structure means our solicitors work remotely, so they don’t need to be local to you to help you set aside a CCJ anywhere in England and Wales.

Help for businesses too. A CCJ against your business can affect finance, supplier credit and growth. We act for businesses as well as individuals.

Contact a CCJ Solicitor Today

CCJ Removals Specialist Solicitors

Paul Severs
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CCJ Removals FAQs

What is a CCJ?
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order made against you when someone has taken you to the county court over money they say you owe, and either you didn’t respond in time, or the court decided in their favour. Read our full guide to county court judgments (CCJs) here.
How long does a CCJ stay on my 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. The only exceptions are where it is cancelled or set aside sooner.
If I pay the CCJ, will it be removed?
Only if you pay in full within one month of the judgment date. You can then apply to the court for a certificate of cancellation, and the CCJ will be removed from the register. If you pay after one month, the CCJ is marked “satisfied” but stays on the register for the full six years.
What impact can a CCJ have on my life?
A CCJ on your record can affect your life in several ways. You might:
- Struggle to get a mortgage or remortgage
- Be declined for loans, credit cards or phone contracts
- Be turned down for some jobs that involve credit checks, for example, in financial services
- Face enforcement action if the CCJ is unpaid
If a CCJ is unpaid, the claimant can take steps to enforce it. These include sending county court bailiffs to take goods, or transferring judgments of £600 or more to the High Court for enforcement.
If you think the CCJ shouldn’t be on your record, speak to a solicitor about getting it removed.
Why do I have a CCJ I didn't know about?
Many people only find out about a CCJ when they’re turned down for credit, or when they check their credit report with an agency such as Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.
The most common reason is that the claim was sent to an old address. For example, you may have moved house without updating your details with a service provider, and a final bill went unpaid. If you don’t respond to a claim form within 14 days, the claimant can ask the court for a default judgment, without you ever knowing the claim existed.
If this has happened to you, you may be able to apply to have the judgment set aside. A CCJ removal solicitor can assess whether you have grounds and make the application for you. Get in touch for more information.
Can I just pay the CCJ?
Not before getting advice. Paying after one month won’t remove the CCJ from your record. And depending on your circumstances, you may not owe as much as the CCJ says, or anything at all. Speak to a solicitor before you pay.
Why use a CCJ removal solicitor?
Getting a CCJ set aside involves a formal court application, a witness statement and, often, a hearing. Mistakes or delays can weaken your case, which is why it’s recommended that you work with an experienced solicitor. Unlike unregulated removal companies, our solicitors have years of experience in CCJ removals and can represent you in court.
How can I get my CCJ removed?
The main route is to apply to the court to have the judgment set aside. This is possible if the judgment was wrongly entered, or if you have a real prospect of defending the claim or some other good reason. There’s no fixed deadline, but you should act promptly once you know about the CCJ, as delay can affect the court’s decision. If you paid the debt in full within one month of the judgment, you can instead apply for a certificate of cancellation.
Can the claimant agree to remove a CCJ?
Yes. In some cases, the claimant may agree to the judgment being set aside, and the court can then make a consent order. We can negotiate with the claimant on your behalf.
What are my chances of getting a CCJ removed?
It depends on how the judgment was made, whether you received the claim, whether you have a defence and how quickly you act. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your chances before you decide whether to go ahead.
What is a certificate of satisfaction?
If you’ve paid a CCJ in full after the one-month window, you can apply to the court using form N443 for a certificate of satisfaction. This marks the CCJ as paid on the register, but doesn’t remove it.
What is a claim form?
A claim form is the court document that starts legal proceedings against you. You normally have 14 days from service to respond.
What is a default judgment?
A default judgment is a judgment entered against you because you didn’t respond to a claim form in time. Most CCJs that people didn’t know about are default judgments, and these can sometimes be set aside. Get in touch to discuss your case.
Can you help if a CCJ has been registered against my business?
Yes. We help businesses challenge CCJs as well as individuals. Get in touch to discuss your case.

We are rated 4.9 out of 5

A 5-Star Rated Service For CCJ Removals

Paul Severs has been excellent in helping me remove 2 CCJs incurred after moving house. The courts made some mistakes which made the process longer but Paul followed up and helped successfully get them removed. Extremely grateful thank you Paul

Evie

I had a particularly complex CCJ case, which I had no way of navigating or resolving without the expertise and knowledge of Paul Severs. His ability to navigate the system, and present the facts appropriately, meant that justice was served and my name was cleared. I couldn’t thank Paul enough for his help, I am forever grateful and would recommend him to others with CCJ related challenges.

Jamie Campbell

I would thoroughly recommend working with Paul Severs in relation to CCJ cases. I run a small business and was allocated a CCJ incorrectly due to not receiving the mail from the company issuing the judgement. Some time had passed since I'd even realised I'd been issued a CCJ and was concerned it would be too late to remove this which can be catastrophic for a small business when considering financial products/ business growth. I contacted Paul and he gave me the chances we had for success which were likely at 50/50 depending on some factors. After his advice and guidance I can now say 5months later we have been successful with the CCJ removal. I cannot recommend him enough. Thank you for all your work Paul & Co.

Danny Stevens

I entrusted my matter with Paul Severs, a solicitor at Setfords. Paul successfully resolved the case in my favour and I can’t thank him and Setfords enough for their professionalism, persistence and doggedness in successfully dealing with the matter for me!

Edward Maravanyika

Im really happy with Paul Severs. I had 2 ccjs and I was really struggled dealing with it by myself. My partner found Paul's number online and i got in contact and the rest is history. He sorted them both out for me. Took a few months but it got sorted. Paul will be 100% my point of contact if i or anyone I know needs anything resolving. It just got sorted in time for my mortgadge renewal. Thank you Paul much appreciated.

Charilaos Nicola

Setfords helped me contest a CCJ that had been applied to my credit record. what would have otherwise been a long and confusing process was simplified. My solicitor Paul helped me through the complicated process- he was very effective. Now i can finally get my first mortgage! Couldn’t be happier.

Bill

I had a CCJ served at a wrong address. I contacted Paul that gave me every information I needed in less than 10 minutes. It took a while (about 4 months), but it's just how these things go. I had to do nothing in the meantime and Paul just kept me up to date with the progress. At last, now my credit score bounced back by 200 points.

Luca Corsini

Huge thanks to Paul at Setfords for his incredible support in helping us successfully remove a wrongly filed CCJ claim. His expertise and guidance made a stressful situation much easier to navigate — truly appreciated!

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