A judgment does not physically collect money.
If the defendant pays as ordered, the case ends. If not, the successful claimant may need a separate enforcement step. GOV.UK lists enforcement options and fees; the useful method depends on whether the debtor is an individual or company and what assets/income are available.
Default judgment is still a court judgment.
If a defendant fails to respond in time, the claimant may be able to request judgment. A defendant can sometimes apply to set aside a default judgment, so keep proof of service and the underlying claim evidence.
Enforcement should be proportionate.
Before paying another fee, consider whether the debtor has assets/income and which method is likely to work. A judgment against an insolvent or assetless defendant can be legally valid but difficult to realise.
A judgment does not collect itself
If the defendant does not pay, enforcement is a separate stage. Available methods depend on the judgment, debtor and assets and can involve further applications/fees. Before choosing enforcement, identify whether the debtor is a company or individual and what assets/income information is available.
Record compliance and payment
Keep the sealed order/judgment, payment schedule and every enforcement step. If the judgment is satisfied, ensure records are updated where the rules require it.
A judgment and payment are not the same thing
If the court orders the defendant to pay and they do not comply, the claimant may need enforcement. The appropriate method depends on what is known about the debtor’s assets, income and circumstances. Paying another fee for an unsuitable enforcement method can waste time and money.
Common enforcement routes
Depending on the judgment and debtor, options can include a warrant or writ of control, attachment of earnings, third-party debt order, charging order or an order requiring the debtor to provide information. Different thresholds, courts and fees apply. Use the current GOV.UK/HMCTS guidance before choosing.
Keep the post-judgment record
- sealed judgment/order;
- payment deadline;
- payments received and balance remaining;
- correspondence about compliance;
- information about the debtor relevant to enforcement; and
- enforcement fees/orders.
If the defendant complies, record satisfaction clearly. If either party seeks to set aside, vary or appeal the judgment, that is a separate procedural question with its own time limits.
Keep the judgment, payment record and enforcement record together.
Useful wording.
“Judgment dated [date] requires payment of £[amount] by [date]. £[amount] remains unpaid. Before applying for enforcement I am asking you to confirm by [reasonable date] whether you will pay in full or propose a realistic payment arrangement.”
If payment is made, update the court or enforcement process where required. Do not continue enforcement for sums already received.
If you are the defendant, do not ignore a judgment you think is wrong.
A default judgment has specific set-aside rules. Under CPR Part 13, the court must set aside a Part 12 default judgment in certain cases where it was wrongly entered. In other cases the court may set it aside or vary it where there is a real prospect of successfully defending the claim or another good reason, and promptness is expressly relevant.
That is not the same as simply disagreeing with a judgment made after a contested hearing. Appeals, variation of payment terms and set-aside applications are different procedures. Identify which one actually fits.
Choose enforcement for the debtor you actually have, not the method that sounds strongest.
An attachment of earnings is not useful against somebody who is self-employed. A warrant of control is unlikely to recover money if the debtor has no seizable assets at the address. A charging order can secure a debt but does not necessarily produce immediate cash. Court fees are usually added to the judgment debt, but there is no guarantee you will recover the fee if enforcement fails.
For company debtors, check that the company still exists and consider what assets or accounts it actually has before paying for enforcement.
Winning a judgment and getting paid are different stages.
The court does not automatically chase the losing party for you. If the judgment debtor does not pay as ordered, the judgment creditor normally has to choose and apply for an enforcement method. Before spending another fee, consider what you know about the debtor’s employment, bank accounts, assets and trading status.
| What you know | Potential enforcement route |
|---|---|
| Debtor has salary as an employee | Attachment of earnings may be relevant. |
| Debtor has money in a known bank/building-society account | A third-party debt order may be relevant. |
| Debtor owns land/property | A charging order may secure the judgment against that asset. |
| Debtor has goods/assets at an address | A warrant or writ of control may be relevant, subject to the rules. |
| You do not know what the debtor can afford | An order to obtain information can help before choosing enforcement. |
Official sources
Check the rules behind this guide
- Enforce a judgment - GOV.UK
- GOV.UK: What to do if a defendant does not pay (EX321) ↗
- CPR Part 13: Setting aside default judgment ↗
These are official or primary sources for this topic. Court rules and fees can change, so check the live source before issuing a claim or relying on a deadline.