United Kingdom · civil

How to Complete Form N244 to Set Aside a CCJ in the UK

Discovering an unexpected County Court Judgment (CCJ) on your credit file usually means a creditor, parking operator, or landlord served court papers to an old address without your knowledge. In England and Wales, you have the legal right to apply to cancel the judgment using Court Form N244 under Civil Procedure Rules Part 13. Acting quickly is vital, as the court strictly scrutinises any delay once you discover the judgment.

The Law on Setting Aside a CCJ in England and Wales

In England and Wales, setting aside a default judgment is governed by Part 13 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). Default judgments are entered under CPR Part 12 when a defendant fails to return an acknowledgment of service or a defence within 14 days of service. Claimants routinely obtain these judgments against consumers who never received the claim form, often because it was posted to an outdated address.

Under CPR 13.2, the court must set aside the judgment if it was entered wrongly—such as where you paid the debt before judgment, filed your defence in time, or the claimant failed to follow service rules under CPR Part 6. Under CPR 13.3, the court has discretionary power to set aside the judgment if you show that you have a 'real prospect of successfully defending the claim' or that there is 'some other good reason' why the judgment should be set aside and you should be allowed to defend it.

Crucially, CPR 13.3(2) requires the court to consider whether you made the application promptly after discovering the CCJ. The courts apply the three-stage relief from sanctions test from Denton v TH White Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 906 when evaluating delays. If you wait weeks or months without a valid explanation after finding the CCJ, the court may dismiss your application even if you have a viable defence on the merits.

How to Fill In Key Boxes on Form N244

Form N244 is the standard application notice used in civil courts. In the top-right header, enter the name of the County Court hearing centre (typically the Civil National Business Centre in Northampton if entered automatically, or your local County Court), the claim number, and both parties' names.

Question 3 asks what order you are seeking. State clearly: 'An order pursuant to CPR 13.3 [or CPR 13.2] setting aside the default judgment entered against the Defendant on [date], granting the Defendant 14 days to file and serve a defence, and ordering that the Claimant pay the costs of this application.' Question 4 asks if you have attached a draft order; check 'Yes' and attach a standard one-page draft order setting out these directions.

In Question 5, select that you want the application dealt with 'at a hearing'. CCJ set-aside applications are contested proceedings and district judges rarely grant them on paper without the claimant's written consent. State your hearing time estimate in Question 6 (typically 30 to 45 minutes) and confirm the hearing is before a District Judge in Question 8.

Question 10 is critical: select 'the evidence set out in the box below' or 'a witness statement'. You must include a concise, chronological witness statement explaining (1) when and how you found out about the CCJ, (2) why you did not respond earlier (for instance, showing proof of your address change before the claim was issued), and (3) your substantive defence to the claim itself. Always attach a formal draft defence as an exhibit to prove your prospect of success.

Evidence, Fees, and Next Steps

An application to set aside a CCJ on Form N244 requires a court fee of £303 if contested, or £119 if the claimant consents to setting aside the judgment by signing a draft consent order. If you receive qualifying state benefits or have a low household income, you can apply for fee remission using Form EX160 (Help with Fees) alongside your N244.

Before filing, contact the claimant or their solicitor in writing. Provide your evidence of non-service and your defence, and invite them to consent to setting aside the CCJ. If they unreasonably refuse, you can show their refusal to the judge at the hearing and ask the court to order the claimant to reimburse your £303 court fee.

You do not have to navigate civil procedure alone. You can use Caunsel to research your legal grounds, organise your timeline and evidence in a structured case file, or connect directly with an independent civil litigation solicitor to review your Form N244 before you file it with the court.

Steps

• Obtain the claim details: Contact the Civil National Business Centre (0300 123 1056) or check your credit file to get the claim number, the claimant's name, the date of judgment, and the particulars of claim.
• Draft your formal defence: Write a clear point-by-point response to the claimant's allegations showing why you do not owe the money or why the amount claimed is incorrect.
• Draft your witness statement: Explain the exact date you discovered the CCJ, why you did not receive the initial claim form (attach tenancy agreements, council tax bills, or electoral roll records showing your actual address), and why you acted without delay.
• Complete Form N244 and Draft Order: Fill out Questions 1 to 11 of Form N244, sign the Statement of Truth, and prepare a one-page Draft Order for the judge.
• File and serve: Send three copies of Form N244, your witness statement, draft defence, and the £303 fee (or EX160 application) to the County Court, and post a copy to the claimant's address for service.

Common mistakes

• Filing Form N244 without a draft defence: Telling the court that you want the CCJ removed solely because it damages your credit score or prevents you from getting a mortgage will result in an immediate refusal under CPR 13.3.
• Delaying the application: Waiting months after discovering the CCJ gives the judge grounds to reject your application under CPR 13.3(2) and Denton v TH White Ltd principles, even if your underlying defence is strong.
• Failing to include evidence of address: Asserting that you did not receive the claim form without attaching proof that you lived elsewhere on the date of service weakens your claim under CPR Part 6.
• Selecting 'without a hearing' when the claimant has not consented: Unilateral applications without a hearing are routinely kicked back by the court or listed for an oral hearing anyway, causing administrative delays.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to file Form N244 to set aside a CCJ?

The court fee is £303 for an application on notice with a hearing. If the claimant agrees in writing and you file a consent order, the fee is £119. If you are on a low income or qualifying benefits, you can apply for a fee reduction or waiver using Form EX160.

What happens to my credit rating once the CCJ is set aside?

Once the District Judge signs the order setting aside the judgment under CPR 13, the court informs the Registry of Judgments, Orders and Fines. The entry will be removed entirely from the Register and from credit reference agency files within a few weeks.

What if the claimant sent the original claim to an address I moved out of years ago?

Under CPR 6.9, claimants must take reasonable steps to verify a defendant's current address before issuing proceedings. If you moved and the claimant failed to take basic tracing steps, you can cite CPR 13.2 (defective service) or CPR 13.3 (good reason for default) and provide tenancy agreements or utility bills showing your residence at the time.

General information only, last updated 2026-10-19. Caunsel is not a law firm and does not practise law. AI answers and this guide are not legal advice. Verify filings, deadlines, and statutes with a licensed lawyer in United Kingdom.