What is a County Court Judgment (CCJ)?
Written by Winnie Onyekwere LLB (Hons), LLM, founder of Remove CCJUK, which specialises in CCJ removal and credit file remediation across England and Wales.
Last updated: October 2026
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order made in England and Wales when the County Court decides that a person owes money to a creditor and the debt has not been paid. Once issued, a CCJ is recorded on the public Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and appears on credit files for six years from the date of judgment.
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know
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What it is: A legal decision by a County Court in England or Wales stating you owe a debt.
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The Impact: It remains on your public credit record for 6 years, significantly lowering your credit score.
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The Deadline: If you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment date, it will be completely removed from your record.
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Enforcement: If unpaid, creditors can escalate the judgment to use bailiffs or High Court Enforcement Officers.
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Can it be removed? Yes. A CCJ can be "set aside" by a judge if it was issued in error or you did not receive the original claim form.
Not sure which route applies to you? Book a free CCJ check and we'll tell you where you stand.
How Is A CCJ Recorded ?
Once a CCJ is issued, it is entered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. The Register is maintained by Registry Trust on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
The three main credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) take their CCJ information from the Register. This is how a CCJ reaches a credit file.
Anyone can search the Register through Registry Trust’s official TrustOnline service, for a small fee.
Checking every source yourself takes time, and the records don't always match. Our audit reviews all three credit reference agencies and the Register of Judgments, and gives you a clear written report.
Because it is public, credit reference agencies (like Experian and Equifax) will see it and add it to your credit report. This can have severe consequences for up to 6 years, including:
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Difficulty getting a mortgage or being offered very high interest rates.
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Rejection for car finance, credit cards, or personal loans.
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Difficulty renting a property, as many landlords run credit checks.
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Mobile phone networks refusing contracts or demanding upfront deposits.
How Is A CCJ Issued ?
Before going to court, a creditor is generally expected to send a letter before claim setting out the debt and giving time to respond. If the debt remains unresolved, the creditor can issue a claim form through the County Court.
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The Claim Form: The court will send you a claim form detailing how much you owe, who you owe it to, and how to respond.
2. The 14-Day Window: You usually have 14 days to reply to the claim form. You can admit the debt, dispute it, or ask for time to pay.
Received a claim form and the 14 days are running? Contact us today before the deadline passes.
3. The Judgment: If you do not reply, or if you admit that you owe the money but do not arrange payment, the court will officially issue the CCJ against you.
The official CCJ document will state exactly how much you have to pay, your deadline for payment, and who you must pay it to.
What is the difference between a satisfied and unsatisfied CCJ?
The difference is whether the CCJ has been recorded as paid.
An unsatisfied CCJ means the court has no record that the debt has been paid in full. Lenders see it as an outstanding debt.
A satisfied CCJ means the full amount was paid after the first month and the court has been given proof of payment. The Register is updated to show the date it was paid. The CCJ still stays on your credit file for six years from the judgment date, but lenders can see the debt has been cleared.
To have a CCJ marked as satisfied, you send the court proof of payment with form N443 and the court fee. The court then issues a certificate of satisfaction.
If the CCJ was paid within one calendar month of the judgment, the outcome is different: it can be removed from the Register altogether. Find out more about CCJ removal
Does a CCJ Always Last Six Years?
Not always. Six years is the standard period, but a CCJ can come off the Register earlier in two situations.
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It was paid in full within one calendar month of the judgment date. The court can then cancel the entry, so it no longer appears on the Register or on credit files.
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The court sets the judgment aside. This means the court cancels the judgment itself, for example where you believe a CCJ was issued incorrectly, or you have valid reasons why it shouldn't exist. The Registry Trust then removes the entry and tells the credit reference agencies.
In every other case, the CCJ stays on record for the full six years, whether or not it is paid. Whether a judgment is set aside is always a decision for the court.
For the steps involved in each route, see our guide on how to remove a CCJ from your credit file.
If there are grounds to challenge, we’ll confirm a fixed fee before any work starts.
What happens if a CCJ is not paid?
If the amount is not paid as the judgment orders, the creditor can ask the court to enforce it. Enforcement can include court enforcement agents (bailiffs), an attachment of earnings order taking payments directly from wages, or a charging order secured against property.
Facing enforcement action or a bailiff visit? Contact us today.
FAQs
Is a CCJ a criminal record?
No. A CCJ is a civil court order about an unpaid debt. It is not a criminal conviction.
Can I get a CCJ without knowing about it?
Yes. If court papers are sent to an address where you no longer live, a CCJ can be issued without your knowledge. This is one of the most common situations where an application to set aside is considered.
Does a CCJ affect my credit score?
Yes. A CCJ is recorded on credit files and lenders take it into account when assessing applications. An unsatisfied CCJ is generally viewed less favourably than a satisfied one.
How do I check if I have a CCJ
You can search the official Register through Registry Trust’s TrustOnline service, or check your credit file with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.
Do CCJs apply in Scotland?
No. CCJs apply in England and Wales. Scotland has a separate system of court decrees, and Northern Ireland has its own judgments register.
Need Help Removing a CCJ?
If you have found a CCJ on your credit file and want to understand your options, Remove CCJUK can talk you through the process. We will:
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listen to your situation and review the details of the judgment
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explain the general process for the options that may be available
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set out the next steps clearly, so you can make an informed decision
Are you a broker or accountant whose client has a CCJ? See how our referral partnership works.