What is a CCJ (County Court Judgment)?
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court decision confirming you owe a debt. It is recorded on the public register for 6 years and can make getting credit harder — but if you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment, it is removed from the register entirely.
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A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a court decision confirming you owe a debt. It is recorded on the public register for 6 years and can make getting credit harder — but if you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment, it is removed from the register entirely.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · Written in plain English, checked against gov.uk · Information only, not legal advice
County Court Judgment (CCJ): the essentials
- What it isA court judgment that you owe a debt
- On the register for6 years from the judgment date
- Pay within 1 monthThe CCJ is removed from the register
- Pay after 1 monthMarked "satisfied" but stays 6 years
- EffectCan make credit, mortgages, some contracts harder
How does a CCJ affect me?
A CCJ is entered on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which lenders check, so it can make it harder or more expensive to get credit, a mortgage, or sometimes a mobile contract, for the 6 years it stays on the register. It also means the creditor has a court-backed right to be paid and can take enforcement action if you do not pay. It does not, by itself, mean bailiffs — that is a separate step the creditor has to take.
How do I remove or clear a CCJ?
If you pay the full amount within one month of the judgment date, you can apply for a 'certificate of cancellation' and the CCJ is removed from the register completely. If you pay after one month, it stays for 6 years but is marked as 'satisfied', which looks better to lenders than an unpaid judgment. If the CCJ should not have been made — for example you never got the claim form — you can apply to set it aside.
What happens if I do not pay a CCJ?
If you do not pay a CCJ, the creditor can go back to court to enforce it: sending enforcement agents (bailiffs), applying for an attachment of earnings to take money from your wages, or getting a charging order that secures the debt against your home. You can ask the court to vary the judgment so you pay in affordable instalments (using form N245). Getting free debt advice at this stage often opens up options you might not know about.
What happens if you ignore it?
Ignoring a CCJ leaves it unpaid on the register for 6 years and invites enforcement — bailiffs, wage deductions, or a charge on your home. You lose the chance to remove it by paying within the first month, and an unsatisfied judgment is the worst version for your credit. Whether you pay in full, arrange affordable instalments, or apply to set it aside because it was wrongly made, taking action beats leaving it.
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How long does a CCJ stay on my credit file?
Six years from the judgment date, unless you pay in full within one month, which removes it from the register entirely.
Does paying a CCJ remove it?
Paying within one month removes it. Paying later keeps it for 6 years but marks it as satisfied, which is better than leaving it unpaid.
Can I pay a CCJ in instalments?
Yes. You can ask the court to set affordable instalments using form N245, though the judgment itself remains on the register.
Official sources & free help
For the full detail — and free, independent advice — see: