CCCS | InfoCentre | Northern Ireland | Enforcing a money judgment

Enforcing a Money Judgment

If an unpaid money judgment is passed to the Enforcement of Judgments Office (EJO), a document called a ‘custody warrant’ will first be issued.

This means that your goods and assets will be under the control of the Enforcement of Judgments Office and you are not allowed to sell them.

A custody warrant is usually delivered by post, but sometimes a member of the EJO may visit your home. The items listed are normally not removed from your home.

The EJO then conducts an ‘examination of means’ to find out the best way to recover the debt. A report is sent to the creditor explain what you have available to pay to them, and the EJO can then go on to take the following actions:

An attachment of earnings order, where your employer takes a regular instalment your wage
An instalment order, where you make regular payments directly to the creditor
An order charging land, securing the debt against land or property you own
A seizure order, where goods you own are taken
An order appointing receiver, where the court takes money someone else owes you, to pay the debt
A garnishee order, which gives the EJO power to take payment from your bank account
Certificate of unenforceability, where the EJO determines you have no way to pay the debt back in a reasonable time

If you ignore debts at this stage, the consequences can be very serious. If court action against you has been started, please contact us for further advice.

You can also find further information from Northern Ireland Court Service.

FAQs

How is an examination of means conducted?

An enforcement officer from the Enforcement of Judgments Office (EJO) may interview you or a summons may be issued for you to attend a hearing.

The hearing will be formal and you are allowed to bring a solicitor, advice worker or similar. You will be asked to bring proof of income and details of your debts and expenses.

Hearings take place in several locations and it is very important you attend as an arrest warrant can be issued if you do not.

Who else will know if I get a money judgment?

As well as the creditor, the judgment will be recorded on your file with credit reference agencies for six years.

It will also appear on the Public Register of Debtors for six years. This is public information which may be checked by anyone contacting the Enforcement of Judgments Office.

Do I pay the creditor or the court?

If you have a money judgment, you should contact the creditor to make payment.

If a ‘Notice of Intention to Enforce a Money Judgment’ has been issued, you should still contact the creditor.

If a ‘Custody Warrant’ has been issued, all further payments should be made to the Enforcement of Judgments Office , making cheques or postal orders payable to ‘EJO’.