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Debt , Debt and Money Advice, Dealing with Debt· 3 min read· Ripon Ray

The primary difference between the N244 and N245 court form in debt

If you have a County Court Judgment (CCJ) and need to change your payment terms, or if you want to challenge a court order, you may need to use either Form N244 or Form N245. This article explains the difference between the two forms, when to use each one, and how much they cost.

Court forms N244 and N245: which one do you need?

Receiving a County Court Judgment can be stressful, and working out which court form to use can add to the confusion. Here is what you need to know.

If you have received a County Court Judgment (CCJ), which is a court order telling you to pay a debt, and you are struggling with the payments or want to challenge the judgment, there are court forms that can help. The two most common ones are Form N244 and Form N245. They do different things, so it is important to use the right one.

Form N244: General Application Notice

Form N244 is used to ask the court to make, change, or set aside (cancel) a court order. It is a general-purpose form, so it covers a wide range of situations.

You might use an N244 to:

  • Set aside a CCJ. If you did not receive the court papers, or you have a valid defence, you can ask the court to cancel the judgment.
  • Stop an eviction or bailiff action. You can request a hearing to stop a warrant of possession.
  • Change a court-ordered payment rate. If a judge set a payment amount at a hearing that you cannot afford, you can apply to have it varied.

How it works: filing an N244 usually triggers a court hearing where a judge will consider your application.

Cost: the fee is around £313, or £123 if both you and the creditor agree (known as "by consent").

Form N245: Application to Vary or Suspend

Form N245 is a more specific form. You use it when you already have a CCJ but cannot keep up with the payment plan.

You might use an N245 to:

  • Reduce your monthly payments. If the payment amount was not set by a judge at a hearing, you can apply to lower it.
  • Suspend a warrant of control. If bailiffs have been instructed to take your goods, you can apply to stop them by offering a new, lower payment amount.

How it works: an N245 is usually handled by a court officer on paper, without a hearing.

Cost: the fee is £50, which is much lower than an N244.

Which form should you use?

If you are not sure which form applies to your situation, get in touch with us before you file anything. Using the wrong form could cost you time and money.

Get help

Court forms can be confusing, and the fees can add up. We can help you work out which form you need, fill it in correctly, and make sure your application gives you the best chance of success.

All our advice is free and confidential.

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The primary difference between the N244 and N245 court form in debt