CCJ Set Aside Cost: Court Fees, Solicitor Fees, and Help With Fees Explained

The Court Fee Comes First

Setting aside a CCJ means filing Form N244 at the county court. The court charges a fee for processing that application, and the amount depends on how the application is made.

An on-notice application — where you file without the claimant's agreement and the court lists a hearing — costs £321. This is the standard route for most set-aside applications.

An application by consent — where the claimant signs a draft consent order agreeing the judgment should be set aside — costs £126. The court still needs to approve the order, but the reduced fee reflects the fact that no contested hearing is needed.

The current HMCTS EX50A lists no separate fee exemption for a CPR 13.2 application: the general fee is £321 on notice or £126 by consent or without notice. Eligible applicants can apply for Help with Fees using Form EX160.

These fees are set by the Civil Proceedings Fees Order and published in the HMCTS EX50 fee schedule.

Help With Fees (Form EX160)

If you cannot afford the court fee, the Help with Fees scheme can reduce or waive it entirely. Eligibility depends on two tests:

Capital test: Under 66, your savings must be below £4,250. Over 66, the threshold is £16,000.

Income test: For a single applicant with no children, gross monthly income must be under £1,420 for full remission. For a couple, the threshold is £2,070. Each child adds an allowance — £425 for the first, £280 for each additional child. Above these thresholds, you pay £5 for every £10 of excess income, up to the full fee.

You apply by completing Form EX160 online (which generates a Help with Fees reference code) or on paper. Submit the reference code with your Form N244 instead of the fee. If you have already paid the fee and later realise you were eligible, you can apply for a retrospective refund within three months.

What About Solicitor Costs

Hiring a solicitor to handle the application is an option, but the fees add up quickly.

Parachute Law lists an initial paper review at £195 inc VAT. If the claimant does not consent, it lists £480 + VAT to prepare an unconsented N244 application and £660–£880 + VAT for advocate hearing attendance, excluding court fees. Add the £321 court fee and the total exceeds £1,000 before VAT.

FixMyFile lists managed document preparation at £949 inc VAT and reserves a £99 non-refundable administration fee if the application is unsuccessful.

For many ordinary money disputes — a contractor disagreement, a landlord-tenant deposit claim, a private sale gone wrong — the procedural steps are straightforward enough to handle without representation. The small claims track restricts costs recovery under CPR 27.14, but an N244 application is an interim hearing with separate court fees and potential summary costs liability.

Other Costs to Budget For

Beyond the N244 application fee, keep these in mind:

• Form N443 cancellation fee (£19): If you paid the judgment in full within 30 days of the original entry date, you can cancel the Register entry using Form N443 instead of a set-aside application. Different procedure, much lower fee.
• Counterclaim issue fee: If you file a counterclaim after the set-aside, the court charges a separate issue fee based on the counterclaim amount.
• Travel and time: Hearings take place at your local county court hearing centre. Remote hearings via the Cloud Video Platform are available — request one on Form N244 if attending in person is difficult.

The Setting Aside a CCJ Guide breaks down each fee scenario, explains the Help with Fees application step by step, and includes a filing checklist to make sure your N244 reaches the CNBC with everything it needs.

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