What is a County Court Judgment?

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is an order issued by the County Court in England and Wales following a successful claim by a creditor against a debtor. The judgment confirms that the debtor owes the creditor a sum of money and sets out how it should be paid — either immediately, in instalments, or by a specific date. CCJs are registered on the Register of Judgments, Orders, and Fines and remain on the register for six years, which significantly impacts the debtor's credit rating and ability to borrow money, rent property, or obtain a mobile phone contract. The process begins when a creditor issues a claim form (N1) through the County Court. The debtor receives the claim form and has 14 days to respond — either admitting the debt, disputing it, or acknowledging service and filing a defence within 28 days. If the debtor fails to respond, the creditor can apply for judgment in default, and a CCJ is entered automatically without a hearing. If the debt is disputed, the matter is allocated to the small claims track, fast track, or multi-track depending on the value and complexity. Once a CCJ is entered, the creditor can use various enforcement methods if the debtor does not pay — including bailiff action, an attachment of earnings order, or a charging order on a property. Paying the CCJ in full within 30 days of the judgment date means you can apply for a certificate of cancellation (using Form N443), which results in the CCJ being removed from the register entirely.