You won — here's what comes next
Receiving a county court judgment in your favour is a significant moment. The court has formally recognised that the defendant owes you the money, and that recognition stays on record. Many defendants pay at this point voluntarily, because a county court judgment affects their credit file and their ability to borrow.
If payment doesn't arrive after the judgment is issued, the next step is enforcement. The English and Welsh court system provides four standard enforcement routes, each designed for a different type of defendant and a different type of asset. Think of them as a toolkit: the right tool depends on what you know about the defendant.
The four options are Warrant of Control (enforcement agents visiting premises), Attachment of Earnings (deductions from wages), Third Party Debt Order (freezing a bank account), and Charging Order (a legal charge on property). Each has its own form, court fee, and timing. You can pursue more than one in sequence, and the fees you pay are added to the debt the defendant owes. The rest of this guide walks through each option in detail.
Before you choose: what to find out about the defendant
The right enforcement method depends on what the defendant has. A small amount of research upfront prevents wasted time and fees later.
Here's the checklist of information that informs your choice:
- Are they employed on PAYE? If yes, Attachment of Earnings is straightforward. Self-employed defendants have no employer to deduct from.
- Do they own property? A Land Registry title search (£3) tells you. If they do, a Charging Order becomes a strong long-term option.
- Do you know their bank details? Past payments, invoices, or contracts may give you the account details a Third Party Debt Order needs.
- Are they a sole trader, partnership, or limited company? The form and route differ for each (see the FAQ on companies below).
- Where do they live or trade? Enforcement agents need a current address; if the defendant has moved, update the court record first.
- What's the size of the debt? A Charging Order on a £200 debt isn't proportionate; method should match scale.
If you don't know some of these details, the court can help. Form N316 (or N316A for companies) is an application to question the defendant about their finances under oath. The hearing typically costs £59 and the answers give you what you need to choose the right route.
Option 1 — Warrant of Control (sending enforcement agents)
A Warrant of Control authorises a court enforcement agent (sometimes called a bailiff) to visit the defendant's address and either collect payment or seize goods that can be sold to clear the debt. It's the most familiar enforcement method and the one most claimants try first.
Best for
Defendants who appear to have visible assets — a business with stock, a tradesperson with vehicles or equipment, or a household with goods of value. It's also useful when you don't yet know whether the defendant is employed or owns property: the warrant is a low-friction first step that often prompts payment without goods ever being seized.
The process
You complete Form N323 (Request for Warrant of Control) and send it to the court that issued your judgment. The court fee depends on the size of the debt: £83 for debts under £600, and £121 for debts between £600 and £5,000. The court then issues the warrant and sends it to the enforcement agents who serve that area.
The agents will write to the defendant first (a Notice of Enforcement, giving seven clear days' notice), then visit if payment isn't made. In many cases the defendant pays during the notice period or on the first visit. If goods are removed and sold, the agents handle that process and their costs are added to the judgment debt.
Timing: the court usually issues the warrant within 1–3 weeks of your application, and most cases conclude within 8–12 weeks.
Option 2 — Attachment of Earnings
An Attachment of Earnings Order asks the court to direct the defendant's employer to deduct a set amount from each pay packet and send it to the court, which then forwards it to you. The deductions continue until the debt is paid in full.
Best for
Defendants who are employed on PAYE — that is, on a regular wage or salary where their employer runs payroll and deducts tax through HMRC. This is the cleanest route when you know the defendant's employer, because the deductions happen automatically each pay cycle and you don't need to chase further.
It doesn't work for self-employed defendants, people on benefits only, or people between jobs. If the defendant changes employer, notify the court so the order can be redirected.
The process
You complete Form N337 (Request for Attachment of Earnings Order) and submit it to the County Court Money Claims Centre or the court that issued judgment. The court fee is £55.
The defendant is then sent a means form listing their income and outgoings. Once returned, the court sets a deduction rate the defendant can reasonably afford while leaving them enough to live on. The order is sent to the employer, who is legally required to make the deductions.
Timing: 4–8 weeks from application to the first deduction. Once running, the order continues automatically until the balance is cleared.
Option 3 — Third Party Debt Order
A Third Party Debt Order targets money that a third party — typically a bank — holds for the defendant. The court orders the third party to freeze the funds, and ultimately to pay them directly to you up to the value of the judgment debt.
Best for
Cases where you know the defendant has money in a specific bank account. This often applies when you've previously received payments from the defendant (so you have their account details from your own bank statements), or when a contract or invoice lists their bank details. It can also be used to capture money that another party owes the defendant — for example, rental income from a tenant.
The process
This is a two-stage process using Form N349 (Application for Third Party Debt Order). The court fee is £131.
Stage one — Interim Order: You apply without notifying the defendant. The court issues an interim order that freezes the account, and the bank is served first, then the defendant.
Stage two — Final Order: A hearing is scheduled 4–8 weeks after the interim order. If the court makes the order final, the bank pays the frozen funds to you up to the value of the judgment debt.
Timing: typically 6–12 weeks from start to receiving funds.
Option 4 — Charging Order
A Charging Order places a legal charge against the defendant's property — usually their home, but it can also apply to land, business premises, or shares. The charge sits on the property's title at the Land Registry. When the defendant later sells or remortgages, the charge is paid out of the proceeds before they receive anything.
Best for
Defendants who own property and have equity in it. A Charging Order is particularly useful for larger debts (typically £1,000 and above) where the long-term security of a charge on property is worth the wait. You can confirm property ownership through a Land Registry title search (£3 per title at gov.uk). If the property is jointly owned, a charge can still be made against the defendant's share.
The process
You complete Form N379 (Application for a Charging Order on Land) and submit it to the court with the £131 fee. The court issues an Interim Charging Order, registered against the property at the Land Registry. A hearing is then scheduled.
If the court makes the order final, the charge stays on the property title until the debt is paid. The defendant can pay you at any time to have it removed; otherwise, the debt is recovered when the property changes hands.
Timing: 8–14 weeks to obtain the final order. Payment itself depends on when the defendant sells or remortgages, which is why this method is best treated as long-term security rather than a fast cash recovery tool.
How to choose the right option
The best enforcement method is the one that matches what you know about the defendant. A short decision tree:
- You know they're employed on PAYE and you know the employer → Attachment of Earnings (Form N337, £55). Cleanest route, deductions happen automatically.
- You know their bank details → Third Party Debt Order (Form N349, £131). Strong when bank details are confirmed, because the interim order freezes the funds before the defendant can react.
- You know they own property → Charging Order (Form N379, £131). Patient long-term security; ideal for larger debts.
- You don't have specific information about employment, bank, or property → Warrant of Control (Form N323, £83/£121) is the standard starting point. The Notice of Enforcement often prompts payment on its own, and a visit reveals what visible assets exist.
- You need more information first → Form N316 / N316A to question the defendant about their finances under oath, then choose based on what you learn.
Many claimants begin with a Warrant of Control because it's the most flexible, and then move to a more targeted method if needed.
Can you use more than one option at once?
Yes. The court allows you to combine enforcement methods when the situation calls for it. For example, you might place a Charging Order on the defendant's property for long-term security, while also running an Attachment of Earnings to recover the balance month by month. Or you might send enforcement agents to seize goods while also freezing a bank account.
The fees stack — each application has its own court fee — but every fee you pay is added to the judgment debt the defendant owes. So combining methods doesn't cost you anything in the long run; it widens the routes by which the money reaches you.
The practical reason to combine methods is when no single route is large enough to clear the balance. A Charging Order on a small flat might secure part of the debt; pairing it with an Attachment of Earnings clears the rest steadily.
How ClaimOn helps
Stage 5 of the ClaimOn app (Follow Up) covers all four enforcement options. For each one it shows you the right form, the current court fee, the typical timeline, and the wording you need to complete the application correctly. It also helps you weigh which method fits your situation based on what you know about the defendant.
If you're at the point where the defendant hasn't paid voluntarily, ClaimOn walks you through enforcement step by step — and earlier stages of the app help you build the evidence base that supports a strong judgment in the first place.
You've already done the hard work of getting your judgment. Let ClaimOn guide you through the enforcement steps so you can choose the right tool and complete the right form with confidence.
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