Guide · 4 minute read · Updated 10 Jul 2026

What is a CCJ and how do I get it removed?

A County Court Judgment is a court order to repay a debt, and it sits on the public register for six years. The two things worth knowing fast: pay the full amount within one month and you can have it removed entirely, and if it was issued wrongly you can apply to set it aside.

What a CCJ is and how it lands

A CCJ is granted when a creditor takes you to the county court over an unpaid debt and the court agrees you owe it. The judgment sets out how much to pay and by when, either in full or in instalments. It is recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, which the credit reference agencies read, so it lands on your credit file and stays there for six years from the judgment date.

Many CCJs happen by default, meaning the person never responded to the court papers, sometimes because the letters went to an old address. That matters, because a judgment you did not know about is often one you can challenge. If money is tight, mapping your income against your debts in the budget planner shows what you can realistically offer the court.

Pay within one month and it disappears

The single most valuable rule: if you pay the full judgment amount within one calendar month of the judgment date, you can have the CCJ removed completely from the register and your credit file. You apply to the court for a certificate of cancellation, sending proof that you paid in full, and the entry comes off as though it were never there. There is a small court fee for the certificate.

Miss that one-month window and the option changes. Once you pay in full after a month, the CCJ is not removed but is marked "satisfied" on the register. That is better than an unpaid judgment and lenders can see you cleared it, but the entry still sits on your file for the full six years. If you cannot pay it all, the debt payoff planner helps you build a schedule you can actually keep.

Setting aside a wrongly issued CCJ

If the judgment should never have been granted, you can ask the court to "set it aside", which cancels it. Common grounds are that you were not properly served the claim (for example it went to an address you had left), that you had already paid or did not owe the debt, or that the debt was statute barred because the creditor had no contact with you for at least six years before claiming.

You apply on court form N244 with your evidence and pay a court fee, which is currently around £300, though it can be waived or refunded if you are on a low income or the judgment was a genuine court error. If a default judgment is set aside, the case may restart, so it is worth free advice from National Debtline or Citizens Advice first to be sure you have a real defence, not just a delay.

What it does to your credit and borrowing

While a CCJ is live on your file, it is one of the heaviest negative marks a lender sees. Expect mainstream mortgages, credit cards and loans to be hard to get, or offered only at higher rates, and some landlords and employers who credit-check will see it too. An unpaid CCJ looks worse than a satisfied one, so clearing it, even late, is worth doing.

The good news is that time heals it. After six years the CCJ drops off the register and your credit file automatically, whether or not it was paid, and its drag on your score fades well before then as it ages. Paying it, keeping other accounts in good order, and simply letting time pass are what rebuild your standing.

Common questions

How do I get a CCJ removed from my credit file?

If you pay the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date, you can apply to the court for a certificate of cancellation and have it removed entirely. Pay after a month and it stays for six years but is marked satisfied. It also drops off automatically six years from the judgment date.

How long does a CCJ stay on your credit record?

Six years from the date of the judgment, then it is removed automatically whether or not you paid it. The only way to clear it sooner is to pay in full within one month and apply for a certificate of cancellation, or to have the judgment set aside.

Can I get a CCJ set aside?

Yes, if it was wrongly issued, for example you were never properly served the claim, you did not owe the debt, or it was statute barred. You apply on court form N244 with evidence and pay a fee of around £300, which can be waived on a low income or refunded if the court erred.

Does a satisfied CCJ still affect my credit?

Yes, but less than an unpaid one. A satisfied CCJ shows lenders you cleared the debt, which is viewed more favourably, but the entry remains on your file for the full six years. Its impact on your score lessens as it ages.

Guidance and education, not regulated financial advice.