County Court Judgment (CCJ)
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court order, made in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, saying you owe money and must repay it.
Also known as: CCJ, CCJs, county court judgment, county court judgement
A CCJ is usually made when a creditor takes you to court over an unpaid debt and you do not respond, or respond but the court decides you owe the money. It is recorded on the public Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and appears on your credit file for six years. If you pay the full amount within one month, it can be removed from the register.
A CCJ can make it harder to get credit, and the creditor can use enforcement options such as a charging order or attachment of earnings. Respond to court papers promptly and get free advice, because a judgment can often be avoided or the payment terms reduced.
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County Court Judgments (CCJs) Explained
What a County Court Judgment is, how to respond to a claim, how to pay or set one aside, how long a CCJ stays on your record and how it affects credit.
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8 min readReadThis page provides general information only. It is not personalised financial, legal or tax advice, and rules and figures can change. Your situation is unique — please check official sources such as GOV.UK and MoneyHelper, and speak to a qualified, FCA-authorised adviser before making important decisions about your money.