Enforcement

A judgment establishes that the debt is owed. It does not collect it. If the defendant does not pay voluntarily, the claimant must apply separately for enforcement, choosing the method suited to what is known about the debtor's circumstances and assets. Enforcement action must generally begin within six years of judgment; after that, the court's permission is required.

Warrant Of Control

A warrant of control instructs a county court bailiff to attend the debtor's address, and seize and sell goods to satisfy the debt. The court fee to issue a warrant is £94. Where the judgment debt is £600 or more, the claimant can instead transfer the judgment to the High Court for enforcement by a High Court Enforcement Officer under a writ of control — the transfer fee is £80, and High Court enforcement officers generally have wider powers and better recovery rates than county court bailiffs. Judgments over £5,000 are normally required to be enforced this way rather than by county court warrant.

Attachment Of Earnings

An attachment of earnings order requires the debtor's employer to deduct a set amount from their wages and pay it into court, which then forwards it to the claimant. The application fee is £135. This route is only available where the debtor is in employment — it does not apply to the self-employed or the unemployed.

Charging Order

A charging order secures the judgment debt against property or land owned by the debtor. The application fee is £135. A charging order does not itself produce payment: it prevents the debtor from selling or remortgaging the property without first settling the debt, and the claimant can apply separately for an order for sale if the debt remains unpaid.

Third Party Debt Order

A third party debt order freezes money a third party owes the debtor — most commonly funds held in the debtor's bank account — and redirects it to the claimant. The application fee is £135. This route depends on the claimant knowing where the debtor holds funds; the court does not investigate this on the claimant's behalf.