Legal issues
CPR Part 70 recognises several methods of enforcing money judgments. The correct choice depends on debtor type and assets. A warrant or writ targets goods; a third-party debt order targets money owed to the debtor by another person, commonly a bank; and a charging order secures the judgment against land or certain other assets but may not generate immediate cash.
For execution against goods, the £600 and £5,000 figures determine the court route rather than whether the judgment is enforceable at all. Consumer Credit Act-regulated judgments are subject to a County Court restriction. If the creditor does not know what assets exist, information-gathering may be more proportionate than speculative enforcement.
Evidence that matters
Useful material includes the judgment, statement of balance, Companies House information, Land Registry material, bank details, previous payments, vehicle or asset information, employment details for an individual and trading addresses.
Reasonable lines of enquiry
Before spending on enforcement, investigate which route matches the debtor's likely assets. For a trading company, bank accounts, receivables and tangible business assets may be relevant. For an individual, employment, property and bank information may point to different remedies.
If the asset picture is unclear, consider an order to obtain information before committing to a more expensive or speculative enforcement route. If goods and trading premises are identifiable, assess High Court enforcement. Reliable bank or receivable information may support a third-party debt order, while meaningful property equity may support a charging order.
What happens next
If the judgment remains unpaid, the creditor applies for the selected enforcement measure and pays the applicable fee. The procedure then depends on the remedy. Some methods are executed by enforcement officers; others require interim and final court orders.
Where the debtor's position is unclear, an order to obtain information can require an individual debtor, or in a business case an officer of the company, to provide financial information. If the debtor company has entered administration or liquidation, ordinary enforcement may be restricted and the creditor should instead assess the insolvency creditor route before taking further steps.
Immediate steps
Confirm the exact judgment balance, interest and costs; identify what is known about assets; check insolvency or Breathing Space issues; and avoid repeatedly using enforcement methods that do not fit the debtor's financial profile.
What should you send us?
Send the judgment, current balance, debtor details, payment history, Companies House information and everything known about bank accounts, property, vehicles, trading assets, employment or previous enforcement.