Enforcing a County Court Judgment (CCJ)

• Key contacts
• Case studies
• FWJ takeaway

Enforcing a county court judgment (CCJ) – expert support to get you paid

You’ve won in court—but the judgment alone doesn’t get you paid. If you’re still waiting for the debtor to pay up, we’re here to help.

✅ At Francis Wilks & Jones, we specialise in turning county court judgments (CCJs) into actual payment

✅ We use the most hard-hitting cost effective enforcement options available.

✅With 23+ years of experience and many thousands of successful recoveries, we know how to get you paid.

---

⚖️ What is CCJ enforcement – and why it matters

A county court judgment gives you legal confirmation that a debt is owed. But unless the debtor pays voluntarily, you’ll need to take formal action to collect.

We act for businesses, directors, individuals and professional advisers who need fast, practical solutions to enforce:

• County court judgments
• Default judgments
• Civil court orders
• Money judgments and judgment debts

---

🛠️ How we enforce a county court judgment

Every case is different—so we tailor the enforcement approach based on:

• The size of the debt
• Whether the debtor is a company or individual
• What assets or income they have
• Your own circumstances and how much you can afford in terms of chasing the unpaid Judgment debt.

1. High Court enforcement officer (HCEO)

We can transfer your CCJ to the High Court for enforcement, allowing certified officers to visit the debtor’s premises. They can recover payment or seize goods for sale. This method is fast and often prompts quick settlement, especially for judgment debts over £600.

2. Statutory demand

If the debt is over £750 and remains unpaid, a statutory demand can be great way to pressure a debtor to pay. This formal demand comes with a threat of insolvency proceedings if the debtor still doesn’t pay, so either winding up petition for a company or a bankruptcy petition for an individual. – It’s a powerful legal pressure tool.

Read more about our statutory demand services.

3. Winding up petitions

Another very hard-hitting option is to go straight for a winding up petition if you are dealing with a company debtor. We specialise in the use of winding up petitions and they can be a very effective recovery option. We also offer a cheaper “draft” winding up petition service for our clients – which also gives great recovery results. We can speak to you more about this and if it is suitable for you.

Read more about our winding up petition services.

4. Bankruptcy petition

Where payment isn’t made by an individual following service of a statutory demand, a bankruptcy petition can be a great way to put pressure on the debtor. These are serious legal actions that often prompt payment before final hearings. We again offer a cheaper “draft” bankruptcy petition option which we can discuss with you – and which also has excellent results.

5. Third party debt order

This method allows you to collect funds held by someone else on behalf of the debtor—typically a bank. Once approved by the court, the money is frozen and redirected to you. It’s useful when you know where the debtor banks or expects incoming funds. We regularly use third party debt orders.

6. Charging order

We can help you secure the debt against the debtor’s property or other assets through a charging order. In some cases, we can go further and apply for an order for sale to release equity. This is particularly effective against homeowners or asset-rich debtors.

7. Attachment of earnings

If the debtor is an employed individual, this option enables you to recover money directly from their wages through court-managed deductions. It’s a steady but slower route, often used when other assets are limited.

8. Order to attend court

Unsure what the debtor owns? We can apply for an order to attend court, compelling them to disclose their income, assets and financial position under oath. This can lead to further enforcement actions and ensures transparency.

To read more about enforcement in general – our free Enforcing a Judgment – 2025 Guide gives you much more detail on all of the above legal options.

---

🔍 Not sure the debtor can pay? We can help.

Before investing time and money in enforcement, we can use specialist advisers who will call our a “fit to sue” report to see if it is worth you commencing legal action to recover the debt. And subject to the debtor’s assets, we can then choose the most appropriate option to put the pressure on so that you are paid

---

🧯 Facing enforcement action? We can help you too.

If you’re on the receiving end of CCJ enforcement, it’s essential to act quickly. Whether you’re a company or an individual, our experienced team can help you:

• Negotiate with creditors to settle or reduce the debt
• Apply to suspend or vary enforcement orders
• Challenge improper service or disputed default judgments
• Set aside a CCJ where appropriate
• Avoid escalation to insolvency proceedings

📞 If you’ve received a letter, notice or enforcement threat—speak to us today.

---

As credit and collection professionals ourselves, we have to be pretty discerning about the lawyers we retain so it speaks volumes that Francis Wilks & Jones have been our retained solicitors for many years now. Thoroughly professional, the firm has a wide knowledge and experience of the legalities of the debt recovery scene. Sound advice is always available and provides crucial support with some of the more difficult decisions that we have to make.

The Credit Protection Association