Overview
The total number of consumer and commercial judgments registered in the British Isles in Q3 2024 was 294,046. Compared to the same quarter last year, there was a 13% increase. 46,971 judgments were ‘satisfied’, a year-on-year increase of 8%.
97% of all judgments registered were in the England and Wales jurisdiction.
The total value of judgments across all jurisdictions in Q3 2024 was £665 million, a year-on-year increase of 21%.
ENGLAND AND WALES:
Overview:
The total number of judgments registered increased by 13%, from 253,093 in Q3 2023 to 286,564 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt saw an increase of 19%, from £516 million to £612 million. The average value of debt increased by 5%, from £2,038 to £2,136.
- Consumer judgments in England and Wales:
The total number of judgments registered against consumers rose by 4%, from 224,152 in Q3 2023 to 234,047 in Q3 2024. The value of debt registered against consumers increased by 19%, from £391 million to £463 million. The average value of debt against consumers also increased by 13%, from £1,744 to £1,980.
- Commercial judgments in England and Wales:
The number of judgments in England and Wales has increased by 81%, from 28,941 in Q3 2023 to 52,517 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt also increased by 19%, from £125 million in Q3 2023 to £149 million in Q3 2024. The average value of debt decreased from £4,321 to £2,835, a decrease of 34%.
- Corporate business debt in England and Wales:
The total number of judgments against corporate businesses rose by 107% from 22,328 in Q3 2023 to 46,226 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt registered against businesses increased by 24% year-on-year, from £103 million in Q3 2023 to £127 million in Q3 2024. The average value of debt fell by 40%, from £4,585 in Q3 2023 to £2,743 in Q3 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in England and Wales
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses saw a 5% decrease from the same period last year, from 6,613 to 6,291. The total value of non-corporate judgments registered fell by 3%, from £22.7 million in Q3 2023 to £22 million in Q3 2024. The average value of debt increased from £3,429 to £3,508, an increase of 2%.
SCOTLAND:
Overview:
The number of decrees registered in Scotland this quarter rose by 26% compared to the same period last year, from 3,698 in Q3 2023 to 4,666 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt saw an increase of 26%, from £6.9 million to £8.7 million. The average value of debt was almost unchanged, down from £1,869 to £1,868 over the period.
- Consumer judgments in Scotland:
The total number of decrees registered against Scottish consumers rose by 25%, from 2,960 in Q3 2023 to 3,708 in Q3 2024. The total value of consumer debt has also increased, by 32%, from £5.7 million in Q3 2023 to £7.5 million in Q3 2024. The average value of consumer debt increased by 5%, from £1,936 in Q3 2023 to £2,034 in Q3 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Scotland:
The number of business decrees registered in Scotland rose by 30%, from 738 in Q3 2023 to 958 in Q3 2024. The total value of business debt also decreased by 1%, from £1.18 million in Q3 2023 to £1.17 million in Q3 2024. However, the average value of debt fell by 23%, from £1,599 to £1,225.
- Corporate business debt in Scotland:
The total number of decrees against corporate businesses rose from 627 to 864, an increase of 38% year-on-year. The total value of debt against corporate businesses rose by 8%, from £912,282 in Q3 2023 to £985,264 in Q3 2024. However, the average value of debt decreased by 22%, from £1,455 in Q3 2023 to £1,140 in Q3 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Scotland:
The number of decrees against non-corporate businesses saw a decrease of 15% compared to the same period last year, from 111 in Q3 2023 to 94 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt against these businesses also dropped, by 30%, from £268,021 in Q3 2023 to £188,182 in Q3 2024. The average value of debt against non-corporate businesses saw a decrease of 17%, from £2,415 to £2,002.
NORTHERN IRELAND:
Overview:
The total number of judgments decreased from 1,707 in Q3 2023 to 1,550 in Q3 2024, a drop of 9%. The total value of debt decreased from £3.9 million in Q3 2023 to £3.8 million in Q3 2024, a fall of 2%. However, the average value increased by 8%, from £2,314 to £2,496.
- Consumer judgments in Northern Ireland:
The number of judgments registered against consumers in Northern Ireland fell 20% year-on-year, from 1,249 in Q3 2023 to 996 in Q3 2024. The total value of consumer debt decreased by only 8%, from £2.9 million in Q3 2023 to £2.7 million in Q3 2024. The average value of consumer debt increased by 16%, from £2,390 in Q3 2023 to £2,763 in Q3 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Northern Ireland:
The total number of commercial judgments registered in Northern Ireland increased by 21%, from 458 in Q3 2023 to 554 in Q3 2024. The total value of business debt increased from £964,711 in Q3 2023 to £1.1 million in Q3 2024, an increase of 16%. However, the average value of debt decreased by 4%, from £2,106 in Q3 2023 to £2,017 in Q3 2024.
- Corporate business debt in Northern Ireland:
The number of judgments registered against corporate businesses increased from 427 in Q3 2023 to 496 in Q3 2024, an increase of 16%. The value of debt against corporate businesses increased by 17%, from £842,738 in Q3 2023 to £986,847 in Q3 2024. The average value of corporate debt increased slightly, by 1%, from £1,974 in Q3 2023 to £1,990 to Q3 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Northern Ireland:
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses increased by 87% compared to the same period last year, from 31 in Q3 2023 to 58 in Q3 2024. The value of debt against these businesses also increased from £121,973 in Q3 2023 to £130,492 in Q3 2024, a 7% rise. The average value of debt against non-corporate businesses decreased by 43%, from £3,935 in Q3 2023 to £2,250 in Q3 2024.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
Overview:
The total number of judgments registered in the Republic of Ireland rose by 79%, from 546 in Q3 2023 to 962 in Q3 2024. The total value increased by 81%, from €19.7 million in Q3 2023 to €35.7 million Q3 2024. The average value of judgments rose by 3%, from €36,171 in Q3 2023 to €37,122 in Q3 2024.
- Consumer judgments in Republic of Ireland:
The number of judgments registered against consumers increased by 51%, from 359 in Q3 2023 to 541 in Q3 2024. The total value of consumer debt also increased, by 63%, from €16.3 million in Q3 2023 to €26.7 million in Q3 2024. The average value of consumer debt saw an increase of 7% from €45,514 in Q3 2023 to €49,318 in Q3 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Republic of Ireland:
The total number of business judgments registered in the Republic of Ireland increased by 125%, from 187 in Q3 2023 to 421 in Q3 2024. The total value of business debt also saw an increase, of 165%, from €3 million in Q3 2023 to €9 million in Q3 2024. The average value of business debt increased by 18%, from €18,234 in Q3 2023 to €21,450 in Q3 2024.
- Corporate business debt in Republic of Ireland:
The number of judgments against corporate businesses increased by 128%, from 155 in Q3 2023 to 354 in Q3 2024. The value of debt against these businesses also increased by 175%, from €3 million in Q3 2023 to €8 million in Q3 2024. The average value of debt saw an increase of 21%, from €19,412 in Q3 2023 to €23,404 in Q3 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Republic of Ireland:
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses increased by 109%, from 32 in Q3 2023 to 67 in Q3 2024. The value of debt against these businesses increased from €400,882 in Q3 2023 to €745,183 in Q3 2024, a rise of 86%. The average value of debt against non-corporate businesses fell by 11%, from €12,528 in Q3 2023 to €11,122 in Q3 2024.
JERSEY:
Overview:
The total number of judgments decreased from 290 in Q3 2023 to 254 in Q3 2024, a drop of 12%. However, the total value of debt increased from £1.1 million in Q3 2023 to £2.3 million Q3 2024. The average value of business debt also increased, from £3,880 in Q3 2023 to £8,911 in Q3 2024.
- Consumer judgments in Jersey:
The number of judgments registered against consumers decreased by 21%, from 251 in Q3 2023 to 199 in Q3 2024. However, the value of consumer debt increased, from £689,747 in Q3 2023 to £824,603 in Q3 2024. The average value of consumer debt increased from the same period last year, from £2,748 in Q3 2023 to £4,144 in Q3 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Jersey:
The number of business judgments registered in Jersey increased from 39 in Q3 2023 to 55 in Q3 2024. The total value of business debt increased by from £435,355 in Q3 2023 to £1.4 million in Q3 2024. The average value of business debt also increased, from £11,163 in Q3 2023 to £26,161 in Q3 2024.
- Corporate business debt in Jersey:
The total number of judgments against corporate businesses increased from 29 in Q3 2023 to 45 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt against these businesses increased from £418,161 in Q3 2023 to £1.4 million in Q3 2024. The average value of debt also increased, from £14,419 in Q3 2023 to £30,881 in Q3 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Jersey:
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses experienced no change compared to the same period last year, remaining at 10. The total value of debt against these businesses increased from £17,194 in Q3 2023 to £49,235 in Q3 2024. The average value of debt against the non-corporate businesses also increased from £1,719 in Q3 2023 to £4,924 in Q3 2024.
ISLE OF MAN:
Overview:
The total number of judgments increased from 9 in Q3 2023 to 62 in Q3 2024. The total value of debt also increased, from £64,012 in Q3 2023 to £2 million in Q3 2024.
- Consumer judgments in the Isle of Man:
The number of judgments registered against consumers increased from 5 in Q3 2023 to 47 in Q3 2024. The total value of consumer debt also saw an increase, from £23,496 in Q3 2023 to £228,307 in Q3 2024. The average value of consumer debt also saw an increase of 3%, from £4,699 in Q3 2023 to £4,858 in Q3 2024.
- Commercial judgments in the Isle of Man:
The number of business judgments registered in the Isle of Man in Q3 2024 was 15, up from 4 in Q3 2023. The total value of business debt has also seen an increase from £40,516 in Q3 2023 to £1.9 million in Q3 2024. The average value of business debt increased from £10,129 in Q3 2023 to £125,166 in Q3 2024.
- Corporate business debt in the Isle of Man:
The total number of judgments registered against corporate businesses in Q3 2024 was 13. No judgments were registered in the same period last year. The total value of corporate debt registered in Q3 2024 was £1.9 million in. The average value of corporate debt in Q3 2024 was £144,197.
- Non-corporate business debt in the Isle of Man:
The total number of judgments registered against non-corporate businesses in Q3 2024 was just 2, down from 4 judgments in Q3 2023. The total value of debt registered against businesses fell from £40,516 in Q3 2023 to £2,928 in Q3 2024. The average value of non-corporate debt fell from £10,129 in Q3 2023 to £1,464 in Q3 2024.
Introduction Essential Information and Glossary
The summary presents data comparing the same quarter year on year, with the information segmented by different regions.
NOTE: High Court and 'Scotland Ordinary Causes’ jurisdictions were separated from the analysis because they inflate key metrics with their unusually high judgment values and provide an unrealistic view of the average business/individual.
NOTE: Value numbers in this presentation have been rounded for ease of understanding. The related numbers (e.g. “percentage of”) in each case are however accurate from the original stats.
Glossary
- Commercial Judgment – Refers to a legal decision made in businesses related disputes, typically involving companies or commercial entities.
- Consumer Judgment – Refers to a legal decision made in a case where a consumer is involved in a dispute, typically with a business or service provider.
- Corporate Judgment – Refers to a legal decision made in cases involving entities such as businesses companies or organisations.
- Decrees – Scottish Decrees are legal orders issued by a court in Scotland, particularly by the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session following the resolution of a civil case.
- Defendant – is a person or entity who is being accused or suit in a legal case.
- High Court Judgment – Refers to a decision made by the high court of justice. The High Court hears from more serious cases.
- Judgment – Refers to decision made by a court in legal cases. A judgment resolves issues in dispute between the parties involved.
- Jurisdiction – Refers to the geographical area which an authority extends.
- Non – Corporate Judgment – refers to legal decisions made in cases involving individuals, partnerships or non-corporate entities, rather than businesses or corporations.
- Scottish Ordinary Causes - These cases are the equivalent to a high court judgement.
- Scottish Small Claim – Is a type of legal proceeding pursued in Scotland used to resolve low value civil disputes.