Understanding judgments & fines

Searching the registers

• The registers for judgments and fines
• The register and CCJ checks
• How to search the registers
• Understanding the search results

Sections of the E&W register

There are four separate sections of the England and Wales Register.

• County court judgments, administration orders and child support agency liability orders. The Register holds details of all money judgments, other than defended cases, as soon as judgment is given. Defended cases, where the defendant appears in person, are not registered unless an instalment order is made, or the claimant takes enforcement action.
• High Court Judgments The same types of judgment as in the county court are recorded.
• Fines defaults  Details of unpaid fines imposed by magistrates & crown courts are registered by Magistrates Courts. 
• Tribunal Awards Details of Tribunal Awards relating to individuals, companies and businesses where action has been taken to enforce the Award.

Information held on the Register

The Register includes:

• Name of court and case number
• Name of defendant/offender (including date of birth, where known, from 06/04/2006)
• Address of the defendant/offender (including postcode from 06/04/2006)
• Date and amount of judgment, order or fine
• Satisfaction details once notified by the court

Claimant details do not form part of the public Register and are available, to the defendant, direct from the relevant court.

Other Geographical Areas

The other registers held by RTL are:

Isle of Man

Default judgments

The Isle of Man Register contains details of default money judgments recorded by the General Registry of the Isle of Man Courts of Justice during the preceding 6 years, calculated from the date of the Judgment.  

The Records contain:

• Case number
• Name & address of defendant
• Date & amount of judgment (including costs)

• Details of ‘satisfaction’ once RTL has been provided with proof of payment and the search fee.

Scotland

Small claims, summary and ordinary cause Sheriff's Court judgments

The Scottish Register contains details of money decrees entered in the small claims and summary causes sheriff’s courts in Scotland during the preceding 6 years, calculated from the date of the decree. Ordinary causes started being collected in 2010 and the Scottish Register contains details of ordinary cause decrees dated 1st January 2010 onwards.

The records contain:

• Court name and case number
• Name and address of defender
• Date and amount of decree (excluding costs)

• Details of ‘satisfaction’ once RTL has been provided with proof of payment and the search fee.

Northern Ireland

Undefended default, small claims and high court judgments

The Northern Ireland Register contains details of all undefended default and small claims money judgments registered in the individual county courts or at the civil processing centre during the preceding 6 years, calculated from the date of the judgment.  High court judgments from the Queens’ Bench Division started being collected in 2008 and the Northern Ireland Register contains details of high court judgments dated 1st April 2008 onwards.

The records contain:

• Court name and case number 
• Name and address of defendant
• Date and amount of judgment (including costs)

• Details of ‘satisfaction’ once RTL has been provided with proof of payment and the search fee.

Jersey   

Judgments from the petty debts and royal court

The Jersey Register contains money judgments for registrations in the petty debts and royal courts in Jersey.  Until 1st May 2011 this Register held judgments issued during the preceding 6 years, calculated from the date of the judgment. However, any judgments received after this date will be retained and reported for a period of 10 years rather than 6 because this reflects the period of time for which judgments issued in the Jersey courts are enforceable. 

The records contain:

• Name and address of defendant
• Date and amount of judgment (excluding costs)

• Details of ‘satisfaction’ once RTL has been provided with proof of payment and the search fee.

Republic of Ireland

Unregistered judgments from circuit and district courts and registered judgment from the Four Courts

The Republic of Ireland Register contains details of unregistered money judgments from the circuit and district courts around the ROI as well as money judgments which have been registered at the Four Courts in Dublin in order to be enforced.

The unregistered records contain:

• Name of court and case number        
• Name and address of defendant        
• Date and amount of judgment (excluding costs)
• Details of ‘satisfaction’ once RTL has been provided with proof of payment and the search fee.

The registered records contain:      

• Name and address of defendant        
• Date and amount of judgment (including costs)
• Details of ‘satisfaction’ once RTL has been provided with proof of payment and the search fee.