How long does a CCJ last?

County Court Judgements (CCJs) show on your credit file for six years.

They also show on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.

You can stop this by paying the full amount owed upfront.

Find out more about dealing with CCJs with our step-by-step guide to completing the N9A court forms that are used to respond to judgments.

Worried about a CCJ or other debts?

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Missed payments and default notices show on your credit file.

A CCJ will show on your credit file for six years from the date of the judgment.

Having a CCJ on your credit file can make it harder to take out credit.

Courts also send details of new CCJs to the Registry Trust.

The Registry Trust operate the public Register of Judgments Orders and Fines.

During this time:

The CCJ is removed from the public register and your credit file after six years. Even if you have not paid it off.

Get free online debt advice if you are struggling with payments.

If you can only make your monthly payments:

The CCJ is removed from both the public register and your credit file after six years.

If you pay off the full CCJ amount within a month of judgement:

You can apply to have the CCJ removed.

You need to:

Apply for a ‘certificate of cancellation’ from the same County Court hearing centre that issued the judgment.
Provide them with proof of payment using court form N443 Application (PDF) for a certificate of cancellation.

If you pay off the CCJ after a month has passed:

You cannot remove it from the register early.

However, you can ask the court for a ‘certificate of satisfaction’.

You need to:

Apply for a ‘certificate of satisfaction’ from the same County Court hearing centre that issued the judgment
Provide them with proof of payment using court form N443 Application (PDF) for a certificate of satisfaction
Pay the £15 court fee

The register will now show the CCJ as paid off or ‘satisfied’.

This makes it easier to apply for credit in the six years before the CCJ drops off your credit file.

Lost a claim form? We have a library of County Court claims forms.

If you ignore a CCJ, more court action can be taken against you.

Now is the time to dispute the judgment or to come to an affordable payment arrangement.

Find out what to do if you cannot pay a CCJ.

Get free online debt advice.