Help Guide

The Ultimate Guide to County Court Judgments (CCJs)

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order confirming you legally owe money to a creditor. It is recorded on the public Register and credit files for up to six years and can affect your access to credit, housing, and even some jobs. This guide walks through what CCJs are, how to check for one, how long they last, and the practical steps to satisfy or remove a judgment.

At a glance

CCJs follow a clear path: a creditor makes a claim, you have 14 days to respond, and if you do not respond or lose the case the court enters judgment. Registry Trust receives the judgment details for the public Register, and credit reference agencies pick up the data for credit files.

Pay within one calendar month to have the judgment removed, or pay later to have it marked as satisfied. The judgment normally remains on file for six years unless cancelled, set aside, or removed by the court.

Search the Register when you’re ready

After reading the guide, the next step is to search the statutory Register to confirm what is recorded against a name and address.

Search the official CCJ Register via TrustOnline

Understanding CCJs: The basics

A CCJ is a legal decision by a civil court that you owe a specific monetary debt to a creditor such as a lender, utility company, or landlord. Most judgments follow a predictable set of steps.

How you get a CCJ

  • A creditor files a claim (often using form N1 or MCOL).
  • The court sends you a claim form and response pack.
  • You have 14 days to respond—admit the debt, dispute it, or arrange payment.
  • If you do not respond or lose the case, the court enters judgment.
  • Judgment details go to Registry Trust for the official Register.
  • Credit reference agencies receive the information for your credit file.

Different systems across the UK

England & Wales: Uses County Court Judgments (CCJs).

Scotland: Issues money decrees through Sheriff Courts—functionally the same as CCJs.

Northern Ireland: Issues County Court Judgments through the Civil Processing Centre.

High Court judgments: Larger debts or transferred cases may result in High Court judgments and more robust enforcement.

How to check if you have a CCJ

Option 1: Search TrustOnline (official source)

TrustOnline is the only official public search for the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, operated by Registry Trust.

  • The fastest way to access 'live' judgment data via our TrustOnline search facility.
  • Search anyone (yourself or others) with no credit footprint.
  • UK & Ireland coverage in one place.
  • Typical cost: £6–£10 per name/address search. You will see the judgment date, amount, court name and case number, and whether it is satisfied or unsatisfied.

Search TrustOnline

Option 2: Check your credit reports (often free)

Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion include CCJ data supplied by Registry Trust. You can usually access statutory or app-based reports for free.

  • Shows judgment date, amount, and status.
  • Limited to your own record (no searches on others).
  • Updates may lag slightly behind the Register.

Checking your own report does not affect your credit score.

Option 3: Contact the court directly

If you know or suspect which court issued the judgment, contact them with your case number to confirm details. The court can confirm status and, where appropriate, claimant details.

What you will see

  • Judgment date and amount owed.
  • Court name and case number.
  • Current status (satisfied/unsatisfied).

What you will not see

  • Claimant details in public data—ask the court if you need them.

How long does a CCJ last?

The six-year rule

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, a CCJ stays on the Register and your credit report for six years from the judgment date, whether paid or not. Scottish money decrees follow the same six-year rule.

In Jersey, court records may be held by some agencies for 10 years, though the Register holds six years for parity.

The exception: pay within one month

Pay the full amount within one calendar month and provide proof to the court to have the CCJ removed entirely from the Register and credit files. This is the only guaranteed early removal route aside from a successful set-aside or cancellation.

After six years, the CCJ drops off the Register and credit file automatically, though the underlying debt may still be enforceable depending on circumstances.

Credit impact: what a CCJ does to your score

Immediate impact

A CCJ usually causes a sharp score drop and may lead to loan or mortgage refusals, rental challenges, mobile contract refusals, or issues with some jobs that require credit checks.

The damage lessens over time

Older, satisfied CCJs hurt less than recent unsatisfied ones. Paying the judgment, maintaining good credit behaviour, and building positive history all help reduce impact over time.

Satisfied vs unsatisfied

An unsatisfied CCJ signals the debt has not been recorded as fully paid. A satisfied CCJ remains visible for six years but shows it has been cleared and when it was paid.

Satisfaction does not instantly boost your score, but many lenders view satisfied judgments more favourably, especially as they age.

Why marking satisfied helps

  • Demonstrates responsibility and repayment.
  • Some lenders accept satisfied CCJs but reject unsatisfied ones.
  • Older, satisfied CCJs carry progressively less weight.

Step-by-step: how to get a CCJ marked satisfied

Once you have paid the full judgment amount, gather proof such as bank statements, receipts, or confirmation from the creditor.

  1. Contact the court that issued the CCJ with your case number.
  2. Ask them to update the judgment to “satisfied” and notify Registry Trust.
  3. Apply for a Certificate of Satisfaction (recommended) using form N443.
  4. Allow 4–8 weeks for court, Register, and credit updates.

How to remove a CCJ before six years

Method 1: Pay within one month

Pay the full amount within one calendar month and provide proof to the court. Registry Trust will cancel the entry and credit agencies remove it from files.

Method 2: Get the judgment set aside

Apply via form N244 if the judgment was wrong or unfair (e.g. you never received the claim, debt already paid, limitation period expired, or fraud). A hearing is usually scheduled.

Method 3: Consent order

If the claimant agrees the judgment should be removed, draft a consent order and submit with form N244. A hearing is often not required.

Method 4: Wait six years

If none of the above apply, the CCJ drops off the Register and credit files six years from judgment date.

I have a CCJ but do not know who it is from

Common reasons include mail sent to an old address, debts sold to collectors, or unfamiliar company names. Follow these steps:

  1. Get the judgment details from your credit report or a TrustOnline search (court name, case number, judgment date and amount).
  2. Contact the court with your case number to request claimant details or current enforcing party.
  3. Once you know the creditor, confirm the balance, ownership of the debt, and request copies of the claim and judgment.

If you recognise the debt, arrange payment or a plan. If you dispute it, consider applying to set aside. If unsure, speak with a free debt advice charity.

Enforcement: what happens if you do not pay

Creditors can apply for warrants or writs of control, allowing enforcement agents to visit. High Court enforcement may apply to larger debts.

  • Enforcement officers can visit, list goods, and remove non-essential items.
  • They cannot force entry to a home (unless previously inside for the same debt) or take essential household items or tools of the trade.

Other enforcement methods

  • Attachment of earnings (deductions from wages).
  • Third-party debt orders (money taken from a bank account).
  • Charging orders (a charge against property).
  • In Scotland, enforcement uses diligence such as earnings or bank arrestment carried out by Sheriff Officers.

Special types of judgments and orders

Administration orders

For multiple debts (including at least one CCJ) in England and Wales, you may make one affordable monthly payment to the court, which distributes funds to creditors. Most enforcement pauses while active, but the orders still appear on your record.

Fines and child maintenance liability orders

Unpaid fines or penalties can lead to register entries and enforcement such as deductions from benefits or wages.

Child Maintenance Service can obtain liability orders that may result in bailiff action, deductions, charging orders, driving disqualification, or in extreme cases, committal to prison.

The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines

The Register is the official public record for County Court Judgments (England & Wales), High Court judgments, Scottish money decrees, Northern Ireland judgments, and certain other civil court and liability orders.

What the Register holds

  • Debtor name and address (and date of birth if provided).
  • Judgment date, court name, and case number.
  • Amount owed and status (satisfied/unsatisfied).

What it does not hold

Claimant/creditor details (available from the relevant court).

Registry Trust Ltd maintains the Register under contract with the Ministry of Justice and equivalents, receiving daily data feeds from courts and distributing validated information to credit reference agencies. TrustOnline provides public searches.

Jurisdiction-specific quick reference

England & Wales

  • Check CCJs via TrustOnline or credit reports.
  • Claimant details available from the County Court with case number.
  • Mark as satisfied: pay in full, then use form N443.
  • Remove early: pay within one month or apply to set aside.
  • Enforcement: warrants or writs of control.

Scotland

  • Check decrees via TrustOnline (Scottish register) or credit reports.
  • Claimant (pursuer) details from the Sheriff Court using the case number.
  • Mark as satisfied: pay in full, then ask Registry Trust to update.
  • Remove early: pay within one month or apply for recall/reponing.
  • Enforcement: diligence (earnings/bank arrestment, attachment).

Northern Ireland

  • Check judgments via TrustOnline or credit reports.
  • Claimant details from the issuing court with your case number.
  • Mark as satisfied: pay in full, then ask Registry Trust to update.
  • Remove early: pay within one month or apply to set aside.
  • Enforcement: similar to England & Wales.

Getting help and advice

Free debt advice charities

  • StepChange Debt Charity: 0800 138 1111
  • National Debtline: 0808 808 4000
  • Citizens Advice (England & Wales): 0800 144 8848
  • Citizens Advice (Scotland): 0800 028 1456
  • PayPlan: 0800 280 2816

When to get legal advice

  • Applying to set aside or recall a judgment.
  • Facing High Court enforcement.
  • Suspected fraud or identity theft.
  • Complex or disputed debts.

Many solicitors offer initial consultations, and fee support may be available depending on circumstances.

Key takeaways

  • A CCJ lasts six years from judgment date, not from payment.
  • Pay within one month for the best chance of complete removal.
  • Marking satisfied does not remove the CCJ but shows responsibility.
  • TrustOnline is the official source for UK and Irish judgment data.
  • Contact the court for claimant details if they are not shown.
  • Act quickly on claim forms—respond within 14 days to avoid default judgment.

About Registry Trust

Registry Trust Ltd is the not-for-profit organisation that maintains the official Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for the UK and Ireland. Established in 1985, we work on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and equivalent authorities to ensure accurate, up-to-date judgment data is available to credit reference agencies, businesses, and the public.

TrustOnline is our official search service—the only place where you can instantly search all UK and Irish judgment registers.