How long does a CCJ last?

Find out how long a county court judgment (CCJ) lasts, how long it’ll stay on your credit file and the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and if you can get it removed from either.

How long will I get to pay back my CCJ debt?

When you get a CCJ, you’ll either be asked to pay:

the full amount you owe immediately
in instalments

If you’ve been asked to pay in instalments, the amount of time you’ll have to pay off your CCJ will normally depend on how much you owe and how much disposable income you have.

The court will usually try to make your monthly payments as high as possible while making sure they’re still affordable.

Where are details of my CCJ recorded?

Your CCJ will be recorded on your credit file and on the public Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.

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How long will a CCJ stay on my credit file?

Your CCJ will stay on your credit file for six years from the date of the judgment, even if it doesn’t take this long to pay off the debt.

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How long does a CCJ stay on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines?

Your CCJ will also stay on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for six years. It will be removed after this time, even if you haven’t paid it off.

What information appears on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines?

If you have a CCJ, the register will show:

your full name
your address
your date of birth
the date of the judgment
if the judgment is ongoing or resolved
the claim number
how much you owe
which court dealt the judgment

Who can access this information?

Anyone can pay a small fee to check the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.

Can I get a CCJ removed the register before six years have passed?

A CCJ can be removed from the register if it’s cancelled by the court.

This might happen if:

a procedural mistake has been made
You pay off the CCJ within one month

If a mistake has been made in the CCJ process

You can ask the court to set aside a CCJ by submitting an N244 form.

You may need to pay a court fee of £303 and you’ll have to prove the CCJ was unfair or incorrect e.g. if you didn’t know you had a CCJ against you.

If you pay off the CCJ within a month

Your CCJ will be discharged if you pay it off within a month of the judgment.

You can get a discharged CCJ removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines by applying for a certificate of cancellation using an N443 form.

What about removing a CCJ from my credit file?

If your CCJ is removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, the credit reference agencies will be informed and it will be removed from your credit file too.

Can I get my CCJ removed from the register if I pay it off in less than six years?

If it takes you longer than one calendar month from the date of the judgment to pay off your CCJ, you can’t remove it from the register early.

But you can ask for a certificate of satisfaction from the court as evidence your CCJ has been paid off. You’ll need to provide them with proof of payment using an N443 form.

The CCJ will show on the register as ‘satisfied’ so anyone searching can see you’ve paid.

This may improve your chances of being accepted for credit.

Is there a cost for a certificate of cancellation or satisfaction?

Yes. When submitting your N443 form, you’ll need to include a cheque for £15, payable to HMCTS.

You can pay by card, but you’ll need to talk to the court handling your case.

What if I can’t get proof of payment?

If you can’t get proof from your creditor that your CCJ debt has been paid, you can still apply for a certificate of cancellation or satisfaction using an N443 form.

You’ll need to send evidence to the court that supports your claim you’ve paid e.g. a bank statement. If you don’t have any evidence, you’ll need to explain this on the form.

The court will write to your creditor and they’ll have 30 days to respond.

If the court doesn’t get a response, they’ll use your evidence to make a decision.