Private v1 previewEngland · Legal information, not advice
Service Charge Guide
Stage5of 5

Judgment, payment and enforcement

Record the judgment, confirm the payment cleared and, if needed, choose enforcement using evidence about the debtor.

Do these three things first

  1. Separate principal, interest, costs and the payment deadline.
  2. Treat cleared funds—not a promise—as payment.
  3. Compare enforcement methods using current forms, fees and asset information.

What this stage can look like

Use these compact illustrations to recognise the work and improve what you already have. Keep your facts and existing document; add what is missing. The wording and figures below are hypothetical, not text to file unchanged.

A judgment control sheet with a live balance

One small record prevents principal, interest, costs and later payments from being mixed together.

Open the detailed guidance

Principal£140.00

Interest awarded£9.20

Court costs awarded£185.00

Total judgment£334.20

Payment due14 days after the judgment date

Cleared payments£0.00

Outstanding balance£334.20, subject to the exact judgment terms and any further interest lawfully due

Strengthen what you already have

  • Add an outstanding-balance row to a record you already keep.
  • Use the sealed judgment's figures and payment terms, not a hearing note or draft order.
  • Record the cleared date and amount of every payment or shortfall.

A concise request for payment of the judgment

The request identifies the order, total and deadline without reopening the decided dispute.

Open the detailed guidance

The judgment dated [date] requires payment of £334.20 by [date]. No payment has cleared as at [date].

Please pay by the method set out below and send remittance confirmation. If payment has already been made, please identify the date, amount and reference so it can be checked.

Strengthen what you already have

  • Keep your existing payment request, but quote the exact total and deadline from the sealed order.
  • Do not add an unverified sum for interest or enforcement fees.
  • Send payment details securely and preserve proof of delivery.

An enforcement choice recorded from evidence

This note shows why one method is being investigated instead of choosing from frustration.

Open the detailed guidance

Judgment debtorAn individual; exact name and address checked against the judgment

Information knownCurrent employer confirmed. No reliable bank-account or property information.

Method to investigate firstAttachment of earnings, subject to eligibility, the current form and fee.

Why not another method yetThere is no present evidence identifying money held by a bank or an interest in property.

Next checkConfirm the judgment remains unpaid and review current GOV.UK enforcement guidance before applying.

Strengthen what you already have

  • Add the evidence supporting each asset or employment assumption.
  • Check that the method is available against this kind of debtor and judgment.
  • Record the current fee, recoverability, likely delay and risk before filing.

Guidance for this stage

Open the topic that matches the work in front of you.

Turn judgment into payment—or choose enforcementRead the payment terms, confirm receipt and choose a proportionate enforcement method only if the judgment remains unpaid.9 min

Templates and checklists

Adapt them to your case
Judgment and payment checklistchecklistEnforcement choice checklistchecklist