Overview
The total number of consumer and commercial judgments registered in the British Isles in Q4 2024 was 271,998. Compared to the same quarter last year, there was a 12% increase. 44,196 judgments were ‘satisfied’, a year-on-year increase of 3%.
97% of all judgments registered were in the England and Wales jurisdiction.
The total value of judgments across all jurisdictions in Q4 2024 was £595 million, a year-on-year increase of 19%.
ENGLAND AND WALES:
Overview:
The total number of judgments registered increased by 11%, from 237,558 in Q4 2023 to 264,611 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt saw an increase of 20%, from £466 million to £559 million. The average value of debt increased by 8%, from £1,962 to £2,113.
- Consumer judgments in England and Wales:
The total number of judgments registered against consumers increased by 10%, from 211,202 in Q4 2023 to 231,458 in Q4 2024. The value of debt registered against consumers increased by 20%, from £348 million to £417 million. The average value of debt against consumers also increased by 9%, from £1,648 to £1,804.
- Commercial judgments in England and Wales:
The number of judgments in England and Wales has increased by 26%, from 26,356 in Q4 2023 to 33,159 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt also increased by 20%, from £118 million in Q4 2023 to £142 million in Q4 2024. The average value of debt decreased from £4,478 to £4,272, a decrease of 5%.
- Corporate business debt in England and Wales:
The total number of judgments against corporate businesses increased by 34% from 21,130 in Q4 2023 to 28,344in Q4 2024. The total value of debt registered against businesses increased by 19% year-on-year, from £100 million in Q4 2023 to £118 million in Q4 2024. The average value of debt fell by 11%, from £4,734 in Q4 2023 to £4,196 in Q4 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in England and Wales
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses saw an 8% decrease from the same period last year, from 5,226 to 4,815. The total value of non-corporate judgments registered increased by 26%, from £18 million in Q4 2023 to £23 million in Q4 2024. The average value of debt increased from £3,443 to £4,723, a rise of 37%.
SCOTLAND:
Overview:
The number of decrees registered in Scotland this quarter increased by 47% compared to the same period last year, from 3,378 in Q4 2023 to 4,978 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt saw an increase of 42%, from £6 million to £9 million. The average value of debt saw a small changed, from £1,877 to £1,809 year-on-year.
- Consumer judgments in Scotland:
The total number of decrees registered against Scottish consumers increased by 42%, from 2,758 in Q4 2023 to 3,911 in Q4 2024. The total value of consumer debt has also increased, by 43%, from £5.3 million in Q4 2023 to £7.6 million in Q4 2024. The average value of consumer debt saw a small change, from £1,945 in Q4 2023 to £1,956 in Q4 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Scotland:
The number of business decrees registered in Scotland increased by 72%, from 620 in Q4 2023 to1,067 in Q4 2024. The total value of business debt also increased by 39%, from £976,443 in Q4 2023 to £1.3 million in Q4 2024. However, the average value of debt fell by 19%, from £1,575 to £1,270.
- Corporate business debt in Scotland:
The total number of decrees against corporate businesses increased from 522 to 972, an increase of 86% year-on-year. The total value of debt against corporate businesses also increased by 48%, from £790,297 in Q4 2023 to £1.7 million in Q4 2024. However, the average value of debt decreased by 20%, from £1,514 in Q4 2023 to £1,205 in Q4 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Scotland:
The number of decrees against non-corporate businesses saw a small decrease compared to the same period last year, from 98 in Q4 2023 to 95 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt against these businesses also saw a small decrease, from £186,146 in Q4 2023 to £183,167 in Q4 2024. The average value of debt against non-corporate businesses saw a increase, from £1,899 to £1,928.
NORTHERN IRELAND:
Overview:
The total number of judgments decreased from 1,506 in Q4 2023 to 1,216in Q4 2024, a drop of 19%. The total value of debt increased from £2.8 million in Q4 2023 to £3.4 million in Q3 2024, a rise of 22%. The average value increased by 52%, from £1,893 to £2,870.
- Consumer judgments in Northern Ireland:
The number of judgments registered against consumers in Northern Ireland fell by 19% year-on-year, from 1,136 in Q4 2023 to 919 in Q4 2024. The total value of consumer debt increased by 30%, from £2 million in Q4 2023 to £2.6 million in Q4 2024. The average value of consumer debt increased by 60%, from £1,823 in Q4 2023 to £2,918 in Q4 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Northern Ireland:
The total number of commercial judgments registered in Northern Ireland decreased by 20%, from 370 in Q4 2023 to 297 in Q4 2024. The total value of business debt increased from £779,740 in Q4 2023 to £807,846 in Q4 2024. The average value of debt increased by 29%, from £2,107 in Q4 2023 to £2,720 in Q4 2024.
- Corporate business debt in Northern Ireland:
The number of judgments registered against corporate businesses decreased from 348 in Q4 2023 to 264 in Q4 2024, a drop of 24%. The value of debt against corporate businesses increased by 5%, from £726,751 in Q4 2023 to £761,874 in Q4 2024. The average value of corporate debt increased by 38%, from £2,088 in Q4 2023 to £2,886 to Q4 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Northern Ireland:
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses increased by 50% compared to the same period last year, from 22 in Q4 2023 to 33 in Q4 2024. The value of debt against these businesses decreased from £52,989 in Q4 2023 to £45,972 in Q4 2024, a 13% drop. The average value of debt against non-corporate businesses decreased by 42%, from £2,409 in Q4 2023 to £1,393 in Q4 2024.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
Overview:
The total number of judgments registered in the Republic of Ireland increased by 30%, from 663 in Q4 2023 to 862 in Q4 2024. The total value decreased by 24%, from €26 million in Q4 2023 to €19.7 million Q4 2024. The average value of judgments fell by 42%, from €39,352 in Q4 2023 to €22,869 in Q4 2024.
- Consumer judgments in Republic of Ireland:
The number of judgments registered against consumers increased by 28%, from 418 in Q4 2023 to 535 in Q4 2024. The total value of consumer debt also decreased, by 45%, from €19.9 million in Q4 2023 to €11 million in Q4 2024. The average value of consumer debt saw a decrease of 57% from €47,754 in Q4 2023 to €20,657 in Q4 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Republic of Ireland:
The total number of business judgments registered in the Republic of Ireland increased by 33%, from 245 in Q4 2023 to 327 in Q4 2024. The total value of business debt also saw an increase, of 41%, from €6 million in Q4 2023 to €8.6 million in Q4 2024. The average value of business debt increased by 6%, from €25,018 in Q4 2023 to €26,487 in Q4 2024.
- Corporate business debt in Republic of Ireland:
The number of judgments against corporate businesses increased by 26%, from 213 in Q4 2023 to 268 in Q4 2024. The value of debt against these businesses saw a small decreased by 2%, from €5.8 million in Q4 2023 to €5.7 million in Q4 2024. The average value of debt saw a decrease of 22%, from €27,418 in Q4 2023 to €27,418 in Q4 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Republic of Ireland:
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses increased by 84%, from 32 in Q4 2023 to 59 in Q4 2024. The value of debt against these businesses increased from €289,252 in Q4 2023 to €2.9 million in Q4 2024, a rise of 911%. The average value of debt against non-corporate businesses rose by 449%, from €9,039 in Q4 2023 to €49,611 in Q4 2024.
JERSEY:
Overview:
The total number of judgments decreased from 236 in Q4 2023 to 219 in Q4 2024, a drop of 7%. However, the total value of debt increased from £849,502 in Q4 2023 to £3 million Q4 2024, a rise of 271%. The average value of business debt also increased, from £3,600 in Q4 2023 to £14,372 in Q4 2024, a rise of 299%.
- Consumer judgments in Jersey:
The number of judgments registered against consumers decreased by 18%, from 188 in Q4 2023 to 154 in Q4 2024. However, the value of consumer debt increased, from £336,262 in Q4 2023 to £2 million in Q4 2024. The average value of consumer debt increased from the same period last year, from £1,789 in Q4 2023 to £14,093 in Q4 2024.
- Commercial judgments in Jersey:
The number of business judgments registered in Jersey increased by 35%, from 48 in Q4 2023 to 65 in Q4 2024. The total value of business debt increased by from £513,240 in Q4 2023 to £977,069 in Q4 2024, an 90% rise. The average value of business debt also increased by 41%, from £10,693 in Q4 2023 to £15,032 in Q4 2024.
- Corporate business debt in Jersey:
The total number of judgments against corporate businesses increased by 28%, from 40 in Q4 2023 to 51 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt against these businesses increased from £472,927 in Q4 2023 to £869,991 in Q4 2024, a rise of 84%. The average value of debt also increased by 44%, from £11,823 in Q4 2023 to £17,059 in Q4 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in Jersey:
The number of judgments against non-corporate businesses experienced increased compared to the same period last year, 8 in Q4 2023 to 14 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt against these businesses increased by 166%, from £40,313 in Q4 2023 to £107,078 in Q4 2024. The average value of debt against the non-corporate businesses also increased by 52% from £5,039 in Q4 2023 to £7,648 in Q4 2024.
ISLE OF MAN:
Overview:
The total number of judgments increased from 107 in Q4 2023 to 112 in Q4 2024. The total value of debt also increased, from £246,810 in Q4 2023 to £1 million in Q4 2024.
- Consumer judgments in the Isle of Man:
The number of judgments registered against consumers increased from 85 in Q4 2023 to 96 in Q4 2024. The total value of consumer debt also saw an increase by 371%, from £166,548 in Q4 2023 to £784,742 in Q4 2024. The average value of consumer debt also saw an increase of 317%, from £1,959 in Q4 2023 to £4,858 in Q4 2024.
- Commercial judgments in the Isle of Man:
The number of business judgments registered in the Isle of Man in decreased by 27%, from 22 Q4 2023 to16 in Q4 2024. The total value of business debt has increase from £80,262 in Q4 2023 to £221,570 in Q4 2024, an 176% rise. The average value of business debt increased by 280%, from £3,648 in Q4 2023 to £13,848in Q4 2024.
- Corporate business debt in the Isle of Man:
The total number of judgments registered against corporate businesses decreased by 30%, from 20 Q4 2023 to14in Q4 2024. The total value of corporate debt registered in increase from £77,773 in Q4 2023 to £216,322 in Q4 2024, an 178% rise. The average value of corporate debt increased by 297%, from £3,889 in Q4 2023 to £15,452 in Q4 2024.
- Non-corporate business debt in the Isle of Man:
The total number of judgments registered against non-corporate businesses in Q4 2024 was just 2, the same as Q4 2023. The total value of debt registered against businesses increased by 110%, from £2,489in Q4 2023 to £5,248 in Q4 2024. The average value of non-corporate debt increased by 110%, from £1,245 in Q4 2023 to £2,624 in Q4 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.
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 quantities 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 two legal decisions made in cases involving individual’s 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.