County court: their powers and responsibilities

County Court

When you're owed money by a business or individual, taking the matter to County Court is one way to get it back. A County Court Judgment (CCJ) or court order means that, legally, the person has to pay. Read on to find out about the responsibilities of County Courts, the powers they have over your debtors and what to do if an order goes unpaid.

What are the responsibilities of County Courts? 

County Courts are responsible for non-criminal (civil) cases. They handle cases such as people looking for compensation after suffering an injury, landowners trying to evict squatters from their land, as well as businesses and individuals trying to get money they're owed. 

How much power do County Courts have?

County Courts have the power to ask your debtor to repay some or all of the money they owe you, and in some cases might ask them to pay your costs, too. When it comes to enforcing a court order, there are a few things County Courts can do. Their enforcement agents can act on your behalf to collect the money owed to you (with a small fee attached). However, as County Court enforcement agents are often over-stretched, their service is not always as swift or effective as services available from Enforcement Agents such as Dukes. 

If payment is not made after seven days, then Dukes Bailiffs can send High Court Enforcement Agents to the debtor's address to promptly and professionally recover the debt.

How to get a court order

It's worth looking into other options, such as mediation, before getting a court order. However, if you have decided that a CCJ is the best way to recover a debt, you can make your claim online or by using a printable form – both are available from the government's website.

If you have a debtor who refuses to make settlement on a CCJ that amounts to more than £600, the next step is to speak to Dukes Bailiffs for help and advice. Read more about how we can escalate your case to the high court and act to get your money back.