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County Court Administration Order (CCAO)
A County Court Administration Order (CCAO) lets you make affordable monthly payments to cover all your debts when one or more of them is already subject to a County Court Judgment (CCJ).
If you have been taken to court over a debt and a CCJ has been issued against you, the court may not be aware of your full financial picture or other debts you need to pay. If you cannot afford to meet the CCJ repayment terms and you have other debts, you can apply for a CCAO to bring everything under one manageable arrangement.
Once a CCAO is in place, you make a single regular payment to the court. The court then divides this between your creditors in proportion to how much you owe each one.
There is no upfront fee to apply, but the court takes 10p from every \u00a31 you repay to cover administration costs.
Who can get a CCAO?
You can apply to the court for a CCAO if:
- Your total debts are no more than \u00a35,000 across at least two creditors
- You already have a CCJ against you from one of those creditors
- You cannot afford to repay the CCJ on the terms set by the court
CCAOs are available in England and Wales only. If you live in Scotland, different debt solutions apply.
How does a CCAO compare to other debt solutions?
A CCAO is just one option. Depending on your circumstances, you might be better suited to an IVA, DRO, Debt Management Plan, or bankruptcy.
Benefits of a CCAO
Creditor protection
Creditors included in the order cannot take further action against you without the court’s permission.
One single payment
You make one monthly payment to the court, which distributes it to your creditors for you.
Flexible if circumstances change
If your financial situation worsens, you can apply to the court to reduce your payments.
Interest and charges frozen
All interest and charges on debts included in the order are stopped.
Things to consider
Creditors can object
Creditors may ask the court to be excluded from the order, although the court does not have to agree.
Missed payments
If you fall behind on payments, the order can be revoked and creditors may pursue you individually again.
Attachment of earnings
If payments are missed, the court can order money to be taken directly from your wages or benefits.
All unsecured debts included
You cannot pick and choose. All unsecured creditors must be treated equally and included in the order.
A CCAO should not be confused with a company going into administration. It does not affect any business you run, and it is not a form of insolvency.
Composition Order
A Composition Order is a variation of a CCAO. Rather than repaying your debts in full, the court orders you to pay only a percentage of what you owe. The remaining balance is written off once you complete the payments.
How to apply for a CCAO
To apply, you need to complete Form N92 and submit it to the county court that issued your CCJ.
We do not currently provide County Court Administration Orders, but we offer a free consultation to assess your suitability and can help you with the application process.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice. If you need advice tailored to your situation, please speak to a qualified debt adviser.
We’ll answer your questions to help you decide if going bankrupt is the right option for you.