Default Judgment County Court: How to Get One When the Defendant Doesn't Respond
They Had 14 Days — and Did Nothing
You filed your money claim, the court served it, and the defendant didn't file an acknowledgment of service or a defence within the time limit. That silence has a procedural consequence: you can request a default judgment.
A default judgment is a court order in your favour, entered without a hearing, on the basis that the defendant failed to engage with the proceedings. For specified money claims (a fixed sum), the court enters judgment for the amount claimed plus accrued interest and court fees. You don't need to prove your case — the defendant's failure to respond is enough.
When You Can Apply
The deadline for the defendant to respond is 14 days from the deemed date of service. For postal service, the deemed date is 2 business days after the court posted the claim form. For claims issued through OCMC, the portal tracks the deemed service date and tells you when the response period expires.
If the defendant filed an acknowledgment of service but no defence, the deadline extends to 28 days from deemed service. If they filed neither, you can request default judgment only after the 14-day response period expires, calculated from the deemed date of service.
Don't jump the gun. If you apply too early, the court rejects the request — and you've wasted time.
How to Apply
Online (OCMC): If you filed through Online Civil Money Claims, the portal offers a "Request judgment" option once the response deadline passes. Follow the on-screen steps to enter the judgment amount, including interest calculated to the date of the request.
By post: For a specified amount, submit Form N205A or N225 to the court that issued the claim. For an amount to be decided by the court, submit Form N205B or N227.
The specified-amount route is simpler — the court enters judgment administratively, without a hearing. For unspecified amounts, the court gives directions for deciding the amount.
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What Happens After Judgment
The judgment order states the amount the defendant must pay and any continuing interest. For a specified amount, you can request payment by a date or by instalments; if no date is specified, the sum is due immediately. If a money judgment remains unpaid for 30 calendar days, it is reported to the Registry Trust and registered on the public register for six years — which often motivates payment even after months of silence.
If the defendant still doesn't pay, you move to enforcement: a warrant of control (bailiffs), an attachment of earnings order, a third-party debt order, or a charging order against property. Each has its own application form and fee.
Can the Defendant Overturn It?
Yes. The defendant can apply to set aside the default judgment under CPR 13.3 if they can show a real prospect of defending the claim or some other good reason. The application fee is £313 (Form N244). The judge considers how promptly the defendant applied, why they didn't respond, and whether their proposed defence has any merit.
A set-aside sends the case back to the defended track — you'll both complete Directions Questionnaires and proceed to mediation and a hearing. Annoying, but it doesn't undo your claim.
The Making a County Court Money Claim guide covers the default judgment timeline and the follow-up enforcement options so you know your next step whether the defendant pays or goes silent again.
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