A County Court Judgment (CCJ) can seriously damage your credit score, affect your ability to rent or get a mortgage, and stay on your record for six years.

The good news?

You don’t need a solicitor to remove a CCJ.

If the judgment was issued unfairly — for example, it was sent to the wrong address, or you had a valid defence but didn’t get the chance to respond — you may be able to apply to set it aside yourself.

Let’s walk through exactly how to do it.

When can you remove a CCJ?

You can apply to have a CCJ set aside if:

• It was sent to an old address or you were never properly notified

• You had a genuine defence but didn’t respond in time

• There was a procedural issue (e.g. wrong name, wrong party, etc.)

The legal basis comes from the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR):

• CPR 13.2 — if the claim wasn’t served properly, the court must set aside the CCJ

• CPR 13.3 — if you had a real prospect of defending and acted promptly, the court may set it aside

What do you need to do?

Here’s what the process looks like — no lawyer required:

1. Fill out Form N244
   This is the official court form to apply for a set aside.

2. Write a witness statement
   This explains your side of the story and why you believe the CCJ was wrongly entered.

3. Pay the correct court fee
   As of 2025:

• £313 for a contested application (most people will pay this)

• £123 if both parties agree and submit a consent order

  See GOV.UK fee schedule

4. Send the application to the right court
This is usually the court that issued the CCJ, and can often be done by email or post.

What happens next?

• If accepted, the court may schedule a hearing

• You’ll be asked to explain your position — either in writing or in person

• If successful, the CCJ is set aside and removed from your credit file and the public register

Can I apply if I’ve already paid the CCJ?

✅ Yes.

Even if you paid the CCJ after the 30-day window and it’s marked as “Satisfied,” you can still apply to have it set aside — especially if you believe the judgment was wrongly issued.

The court will still consider the legal test under CPR 13.2 or 13.3.

How to maximise your chances without a solicitor:

• Use a Subject Access Request (SAR) to get evidence of how and when the claim was sent

• Include a draft defence, even just a simple paragraph (e.g. “I never owed the amount claimed”)

• Be clear, concise, and factual — don’t get emotional or speculative

• Act quickly — courts expect applicants to move promptly once they discover a CCJ

If you need help, our AI tool can guide you through the entire process, including generating your N244 form and witness statement.

Now What

Here’s how to get started with removing your CCJ on your own:

1. Find out the court and claim details (you can request these from the court or creditor)

2. Use a SAR if needed to gather your file

3. Download Form N244 and fill it in

4. Draft your witness statement explaining your case

5. Pay the court fee (£313 or £123 depending on the type of application)

6. Send your application to the court that issued the CCJ

💡 Need help writing the witness statement or filling out Form N244?
Try our AI-powered CCJ removal tool.

Useful Links

• N244 Application Form (GOV.UK)

• Official Court Fees (GOV.UK)

• Subject Access Request: What It Is and How to Use It

• Can You Remove a CCJ?

• Certificates of Satisfaction and Cancellation