What Is an N244 Form? Guide to Setting Aside a CCJ

If you have received a County Court Judgment (CCJ) and believe it was issued unfairly, or you never received the original claim form, you may be able to have it set aside. The legal mechanism for doing this is the N244 application notice, sometimes called the N244 form.

This guide explains exactly what an N244 form is, when you would use one, how the process works, and what it costs. Everything here applies to England and Wales only.

What Is the N244 Form?

The N244 is a general-purpose application notice used in civil courts across England and Wales. It allows you to ask a court to take a specific action on an existing case. In the context of CCJ removal, you use an N244 to apply to have a judgment “set aside”, which means asking the court to cancel it.

Setting aside a CCJ is different from having it “satisfied” (marked as paid). When a judgment is set aside, it is removed entirely from the Register of Judgments and, once updated, from your credit file too.

The official N244 form is published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service and can be downloaded from GOV.UK.

When Would You Use an N244 to Set Aside a CCJ?

You would typically use an N244 in the following situations:

You never received the claim form. This is the most common scenario. The claimant may have sent papers to an old address, or they were lost in the post. If you did not know about the claim, you could not defend it, and the court granted judgment “in default”.
You have a genuine defence to the original claim. Perhaps the debt has already been paid, or the amount is wrong, or you dispute the contract entirely.
There was a procedural irregularity. For example, the claimant failed to follow the correct pre-action protocol, or the claim was served to the wrong address.
You want to vary or revoke the judgment. In some cases, the terms of the judgment may be unfair or based on incorrect information.

The key legal provision is Civil Procedure Rule 13.3, which gives the court discretion to set aside a default judgment if the defendant has a real prospect of successfully defending the claim, or if there is some other good reason for the judgment to be set aside.

N244 vs Consent Order: What Is the Difference?

There are two main routes to getting a CCJ removed. Understanding the difference is important because it affects cost, timescales, and complexity.

Consent Order

A Consent Order is used when both parties (you and the claimant) agree to have the judgment set aside. Because there is no dispute, the court does not need to hold a hearing. You simply submit a draft order signed by both sides, and the judge approves it on paper.

Court fee: £123
Typical timescale: around 12 weeks
No hearing required
Best suited when the claimant cooperates

N244 Application

An N244 is used when the claimant does not agree to set aside, or when you cannot contact them, or when the circumstances require the court to decide. This route involves a hearing, either in person at the court or via Cloud Video Platform (CVP), which is a remote video hearing.

Court fee: £313
Typical timescale: 4+ months (or 9 to 12 months in London courts)
Hearing required (in person or CVP)
Best suited when the claimant is unresponsive or disputes the set aside

If you are unsure which route is right for your situation, our team can assess your case and advise on the best approach. Get in touch for a free initial assessment.

How to Fill In the N244 Form

The N244 form asks for several pieces of information. Here is a breakdown of what you will need to provide:

Section 1: Case Details

You will need the claim number from the original County Court claim. This is usually in the format of a letter followed by numbers (for example, A00AB123). If you have any court correspondence, the claim number will be on it. You can also search the Register of Judgments to find your case details.

Section 2: What Order Are You Asking For?

This is where you state clearly that you are asking the court to set aside the default judgment. You should reference the claim number, the date the judgment was entered, and state that you are applying under CPR Part 13.

Section 3: Why Are You Making This Application?

This is the most important section. You need to explain your grounds for the application. Common reasons include:

You were not aware of the proceedings because the claim form was sent to an incorrect or outdated address
You have a valid defence to the original claim (the debt was paid, the amount is incorrect, you dispute liability)
The claimant failed to follow correct procedures

You should attach a witness statement to support your application. This is a written account of the facts, signed with a statement of truth. The witness statement is your opportunity to provide evidence and context that the form itself does not have space for.

Section 4: Hearing Preferences

You can indicate whether you would prefer a hearing in person or via CVP (video). Many courts now offer CVP as standard, which can be more convenient if the court is far from where you live.

What Happens After You Submit the N244?

Once you file the N244 with the court and pay the £313 fee, the process typically follows these steps:

The court processes your application. They will send copies to the claimant and notify both parties of the hearing date.
The claimant responds. They may agree to the set aside (in which case it may be dealt with on paper), oppose it, or simply not respond.
The hearing takes place. A District Judge will consider your application, your witness statement, and any response from the claimant. You will have the opportunity to present your case.
The judge makes a decision. If the judge agrees the CCJ should be set aside, they will make an order to that effect. The judgment is then removed from the court record.
The Register of Judgments is updated. Registry Trust will remove the entry, and your credit file will be updated by the credit reference agencies (this can take a few weeks after the court order).

How Long Does the N244 Process Take?

Timescales vary depending on which court is handling your case and how busy they are:

Most courts in England and Wales: 4 to 6 months from filing to hearing
London courts: 9 to 12 months due to higher caseloads
After the hearing: If successful, the Register of Judgments is typically updated within 2 to 4 weeks, and credit files within a further 4 to 6 weeks

These are realistic estimates based on current court processing times. We always recommend starting the process as soon as possible, particularly if a CCJ is affecting a mortgage application, tenancy agreement, or business credit.

How Much Does an N244 Application Cost?

The court fee for filing an N244 application is currently £313. This is a fixed fee set by HM Courts & Tribunals Service and applies whether your hearing is in person or via CVP.

If you use a professional service like CCJ Removal Services to handle the process for you, there will be an additional service fee. Our service includes preparing the application, drafting the witness statement, filing with the court, and representing your case at the hearing.

For a full breakdown of all costs involved, see our guide: How Much Does CCJ Removal Cost in 2026?

What Are Your Chances of Success?

Success depends on the strength of your case. The court will consider:

Whether you have a real prospect of defending the original claim
Whether you acted promptly once you became aware of the CCJ
Whether there is a good explanation for why you did not respond to the original claim
Whether setting aside the judgment would cause prejudice to the claimant

If you genuinely did not receive the claim form and you have a valid defence, the prospects are generally positive. However, every case is different, and the court retains full discretion.

Can You Do This Yourself or Do You Need Professional Help?

You can absolutely file an N244 yourself. The form is available on GOV.UK, and you do not need a solicitor to make the application or attend the hearing. Many people do represent themselves (“litigants in person”).

That said, the process does require careful preparation. The witness statement needs to be well-drafted, the legal grounds need to be clearly stated, and at the hearing you will need to present your case to a judge. Small errors or omissions can weaken an otherwise strong application.

At CCJ Removal Services, we handle the entire process from start to finish. We are not solicitors, but we are specialists in CCJ removal with extensive experience of the court process. We prepare all paperwork, file the application, and handle the hearing on your behalf.

Key Things to Remember

The N244 is the form you use to ask the court to set aside a CCJ when the claimant does not agree or cannot be contacted
The court fee is £313, and hearings can be in person or via CVP (video)
You will need to prepare a witness statement explaining your grounds
Timescales range from 4 months to 12 months depending on the court location
A Consent Order (£123, no hearing, around 12 weeks) is the quicker alternative when both parties agree
Acting promptly strengthens your case

Next Steps

If you have a CCJ that you believe should be set aside, the first step is to get your case assessed. We offer a free initial review where we look at the details of your judgment and advise on the best route forward, whether that is a Consent Order, an N244 application, or another approach entirely.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. CCJ Removal Services is not a firm of solicitors. For complex legal matters, you should seek independent legal advice.

What Is an N244 Form? Complete Guide to Setting Aside a CCJ