Chris Dick, CEO, Registry Trust
Monday, 13th October 2025
Each quarter, we publish our data on every monetary judgment recorded in the UK and Ireland. Our Q3 2025 figures provide a detailed snapshot of formal debt judgments, showing how volumes and values are changing across different nations and sectors.
UK overview: Judgments continue to rise
In Q3 2025, 325,008 new judgments were recorded across the UK - an increase of 10.8% on the previous quarter and 10.4% year-on-year. Together, these judgments were worth more than £13 billion, with around 88% still marked as unsatisfied.
Consumer judgments dominate: 285,030 cases were registered against individuals this quarter, up 15.9% since Q2 and nearly 19% higher than the same time last year. By contrast, commercial judgments - involving companies - totalled 39,978, down 15.5% from Q2 and 26.8% year-on-year.
England & Wales: Largest rise in consumer judgments
England and Wales accounts for the vast majority of UK activity, with 316,683 new consumer judgments this quarter - an increase of 11% since Q2 and 10.7% compared with Q3 2024.
The median value of a consumer judgment was £756, with the most common value standing at £277.
Scotland: Overall stability, but a notable rise in commercial cases
In Scotland, 5,406 judgments were registered this quarter, a small year-on-year change but with a significant difference between consumer and commercial.
- Consumer judgments totalled 4,007 (-7% QoQ, -5.8% YoY).
- Commercial judgments rose to 1,399 (+6.1% QoQ, +21.2% YoY).
The median consumer judgment value was £1,670, more than double the median value in England and Wales where court systems differ, while commercial cases recorded a median of £1,139.
Northern Ireland: Judgments down quarter-on-quarter
Northern Ireland saw 1,350 judgments in Q3, a fall of 14.7% compared with Q2 and 11.1% year-on-year.
- Consumer judgments: 993 (-20.8% QoQ, +1.4% YoY).
- Median consumer value: £1,134; median commercial: £858.
Although much smaller in volume, these figures remain an important part of the wider picture of debt across the UK.
Republic of Ireland: Continuing growth
The Republic of Ireland saw 1,273 new judgments, up 12.6% since Q2 and 32.2% year-on-year, one of the strongest increases in the dataset although with a much smaller sample.
- Consumer judgments: 743 (+17.2% QoQ, +37.1% YoY).
- Commercial judgments: 530 (+6.6% QoQ, +25.9% YoY).
What the data shows
Our Q3 2025 data demonstrates that monetary judgment activity remains high across the UK and Ireland, with notable growth in consumer cases and ongoing variations between the different jurisdictions.
Registry Trust’s data continues to provide an independent, transparent record of court-based debt outcomes, a key resource for understanding the operation of credit, debt recovery, financial inclusion and access to justice systems across the UK and Ireland.
About the Register
Registry Trust is the not-for-profit organisation that maintains the official Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for England & Wales and the equivalents in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. The Register ensures every monetary judgment is recorded and made publicly accessible, providing a unique, long-term source of data for research, policy and public understanding.
📘 Read the full Q3 2025 Quarterly Statistics Book here (pdf)