What is a county court judgment?

A county court judgment (CCJ) is a court order that requires you to repay a debt. It is issued by the County Court in England and Wales when a creditor takes legal action and either wins the case or the defendant fails to respond to the claim.

Once a CCJ is registered, it appears on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (maintained by Registry Trust) and on your credit file. It can significantly affect your ability to get credit, a mortgage, a tenancy agreement, or even certain jobs.

How long does a CCJ last?

A CCJ remains on your credit file for six years from the date it was issued — regardless of whether you pay it. However, if you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment, you can apply to have it removed from the register (known as "satisfied" status removes the entry entirely). After one month, paying in full marks the CCJ as "satisfied" but it remains visible for six years.

What are your options?

Pay in full within 30 days The CCJ is removed from the register entirely. You must apply to the court with proof of payment.
Pay in full after 30 days CCJ marked as "satisfied" but remains visible for six years from issue date.
Apply to set aside If you were not properly served with the claim, or have a valid defence, you may be able to apply to have the CCJ set aside.
Apply to vary If you cannot afford the payments ordered, you can apply to the court to vary the payment terms.

Can a CCJ be set aside?

Yes — but only in limited circumstances. You can apply to set aside a default judgment if you were not properly served with the original claim, or if you have a genuine defence to the debt that was not considered. You must act promptly; courts are less willing to set aside judgments where there has been significant delay.

Setting aside a CCJ requires a court application (Form N244) and a fee. If the application is successful, the matter goes back to the start and the CCJ is removed.

Check whether you were properly served Default judgments are sometimes issued because the claim was sent to an old address or was otherwise not received. If you had no knowledge of the claim, this is often the strongest ground for a set-aside application.

How to avoid a CCJ in the first place

The most effective way to avoid a CCJ is to respond to the Letter of Claim before court proceedings begin. Under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims, you have 30 days to respond to a formal Letter of Claim. Using this time to request information, raise a dispute, or negotiate a payment arrangement can prevent the matter reaching court at all.

⚠ Do not ignore a Letter of Claim If you receive a letter that says "Letter of Claim" and includes reply forms, you have 30 days to respond. Ignoring it may result in a CCJ being issued by default without a court hearing.

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How to check if you have a CCJ

You can check the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines at trustonline.org.uk for a small fee. You can also check your credit file with Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion — all three offer free access to your statutory credit report.

A note on this guide

This guide provides general information about county court judgments in England and Wales. It is not legal advice. For personal advice, contact Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or a qualified debt solicitor.