What is a CCJ?
A County Court Judgment is a court judgment in England and Wales that can be made when money is owed and a creditor brings a claim. It can be recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines unless it is paid within the relevant period set by the rules. GOV.UK provides the current process and record information.
CCJs apply specifically to England and Wales; other parts of the UK have separate court processes for recovering debt. GOV.UK is the authoritative source for the current rules on registration and satisfaction of a judgment.
Can you get a loan with a CCJ?
A person with a CCJ may still apply for credit, but lenders can assess the application using their own criteria and may consider the judgment's age, status, amount, other credit information, income and affordability. There is no assured outcome for a CCJ loan, and applying for credit without considering affordability can create further difficulty.
Whether an individual lender considers an application depends entirely on its own policy, so this guide does not list lenders or describe likely outcomes for any particular circumstances.
How can a CCJ affect a mortgage or secured loan?
A CCJ can be information a lender considers when assessing a mortgage or secured loan, alongside affordability, property security and other credit information. A secured loan can put a home at risk if repayments are missed; it should not be framed as a way to solve an unaffordable debt position. Outcomes depend on individual assessment.
More on how adverse credit generally fits into a second charge assessment is covered in second mortgages with bad credit, alongside the wider risks explained in second mortgage risks.
What can you check before applying for credit?
Before applying, a person can check the accuracy of their credit information and understand the current status of any judgment. Free, independent debt advice can help when debts are difficult to manage. This guide does not suggest taking new borrowing, paying a judgment or challenging a record without first checking official information and individual advice.
MoneyHelper provides independent information about CCJs and wider debt options, and Citizens Advice can explain free debt-solution routes for anyone finding their overall debt position difficult to manage.
Sources
- County Court Judgments (CCJs) for debt (GOV.UK)
- County Court Judgments for debt (MoneyHelper)
- Debt solutions (Citizens Advice)
Frequently asked questions
How long does a CCJ stay on the register?
The current rules on how long a County Court Judgment remains on the public register, and how paying it in full within the relevant period affects that record, are set out on GOV.UK. Whether a judgment is marked as satisfied depends on payment and the applicable process at the time.
Can a satisfied CCJ affect a mortgage?
It is possible for a satisfied CCJ to remain relevant to a lender's assessment, since criteria vary between lenders and depend on factors such as the judgment's age, amount and context. A general guide cannot predict an individual outcome, so checking with the lender or a regulated adviser is the reliable route.
Can I check if a CCJ is on my record?
Yes. The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and a personal credit report are both places where CCJ information may appear. Checking official sources directly, rather than relying on assumptions, is the most reliable way to confirm whether a judgment is recorded against an individual.
Are CCJ loans available to everyone?
No loan is assured for anyone with a CCJ. Lenders assess applications individually and consider affordability alongside credit information, so having a CCJ does not automatically prevent or secure an offer of credit. Applying for new borrowing without considering affordability first can create further financial difficulty.