--- title: "What a CCJ means and how to get one removed | CrisisCompass Blog | CrisisCompass" source_url: "https://crisiscompass.co.uk/blog/ccj-county-court-judgement-guide" retrieved_by: "AnswerRail Edge Engine v1.1.0-parity-v20 (https://answerrail.com)" level_of_detail: "standard" token_payload_reduction: "92.2%" raw_html_bytes: 105237 compiled_body_bytes: 8252 entities_extracted: 5 currency_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_currency_tokens: 24 link_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_content_links: 14 omitted_dynamic_states: ["non_default_tab_panels", "volume_slider_tiers"] conversion_notes: "Origin renders alternate tabs and volume pricing sliders via client-side JavaScript; serving default static AST state." rfc_compliance: "RFC 9110" last_verified_at: "2026-10-25T08:54:04.497Z" cache_age_seconds: 0 origin_cache_control: "public, max-age=0, must-revalidate" --- > **Canonical Source:** [https://crisiscompass.co.uk/blog/ccj-county-court-judgement-guide](https://crisiscompass.co.uk/blog/ccj-county-court-judgement-guide) > > *A County Court Judgement stays on your record for 6 years — unless you pay within 30 days. Here's everything you need to know.* ### Organization: CrisisCompass | Field | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Organization** | CrisisCompass | | **Official Website** | https://crisiscompass.co.uk | | **Overview** | Independent UK crisis management, financial support guidance, and emergency contingency portal. | ### Entity: CrisisCompass | Property | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | **Type** | WebSite | | **Name** | CrisisCompass | ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q: Is CrisisCompass free?** > A: Yes. All core tools — Survival Check, Benefits Finder, Hardship Letter Generator, Budget Calculator, Debt Priority Checker, and AI Chat — are completely free. Optional premium PDF documents start from £2.99. **Q: Is CrisisCompass financial advice?** > A: No. CrisisCompass provides general information and tools. For personalised financial advice, we recommend contacting StepChange (0800 138 1111) or Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848). **Q: Is my data safe?** > A: We store data locally in your browser wherever possible. The Financial Survival Check results are never saved to our servers. See our Privacy Policy for full details. Debt Guides # What a CCJ means and how to get one removed 28 April 2026 · 3 min read Share: A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a court order telling you to pay money you owe. It's issued when a creditor takes you to court for an unpaid debt. ## How does a CCJ happen? ### Step 1: Claim form You receive a claim form (N1) from the court. This is your warning — you have \*\*14 days\*\* to respond. ### Step 2: Your options - \*\*Pay in full\*\* within 14 days — the claim is closed, no CCJ - \*\*Admit and offer a payment plan\*\* — the court will decide if it's reasonable - \*\*Dispute the claim\*\* — if you believe the debt is wrong - \*\*Do nothing\*\* — the court will issue a CCJ by default (this is the worst option) ### Step 3: CCJ issued If a CCJ is issued, you must pay as ordered. It stays on the \*\*Register of Judgments\*\* and your \*\*credit file for 6 years\*\*. ## The 30-day rule This is crucial: if you pay the \*\*full CCJ amount within 30 days\*\* of the judgement, you can apply to have it \*\*completely removed\*\* from the register and your credit file with a \*\*certificate of cancellation\*\*. After 30 days, even if you pay in full, the CCJ stays on your record for 6 years (marked as "satisfied" but still visible). ## How a CCJ affects you - \*\*Credit score drops significantly\*\* — most lenders won't offer credit - \*\*Mortgage applications\*\* may be declined - \*\*Rental applications\*\* may be affected (landlords often credit check) - \*\*Mobile phone contracts\*\* may be harder to get - \*\*Insurance premiums\*\* may increase ## If you already have a CCJ ### Pay within 30 days If the CCJ was issued recently, pay immediately and apply for a certificate of cancellation (form N443, fee £15). ### Set aside the CCJ If you didn't receive the claim form (it went to a wrong address), you can apply to \*\*set aside\*\* the CCJ. This cancels it. Use form N244. ### Vary the payment terms If you can't afford the ordered payments, apply to vary the terms using form \*\*N245\*\* (free). The court can reduce your payments. ### Wait it out After 6 years, the CCJ drops off the register and your credit file automatically. ## Preventing a CCJ The best time to act is when you receive the \*\*claim form\*\* (before the CCJ is issued): - \*\*Don't ignore it\*\* — the worst thing you can do - \*\*Respond within 14 days\*\* — even if you can't pay in full - \*\*Offer a payment plan\*\* — most courts and creditors accept reasonable offers - \*\*Get advice\*\* — Citizens Advice and StepChange can help you respond A CCJ is serious but manageable. The key is acting quickly when you receive court papers. ## Free tools mentioned in this article [Financial Survival Check](/check)[Hardship Letter Generator](/tools/letters)[Benefits Finder](/benefits)[Budget Calculator](/tools/budget) 🏢 UK Limited Company Director Triage • Finance Act 2009 s.108 & ERA 1996 s.166PAYE • VAT • Corporation Tax • Bounce Back Loans ## Running a Limited Company with HMRC Arrears or Business Debt? 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