County Court Administration Order (CCAO)

Updated for 2026

A County Court Administration Order (CCAO) allows you to make affordable 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, a CCJ is issued detailing the terms you are required to repay. However, the court does not necessarily know your full financial situation or about other debts you need to pay.

If you cannot afford to meet the terms of the CCJ and you have other debts, you can explain this to the court when applying for a CCAO. If granted, you make regular payments to the court, which distributes them between your creditors in proportion to what you owe each one.

There is no upfront fee to apply, but the court deducts 10p from every £1 you repay to cover administration costs.

Who can get a County Court Administration Order?

You can apply to the court that issued your CCJ for an Administration Order if:

• Your total debts are no more than £5,000 across at least two creditors
• You have at least one CCJ against you that you cannot pay according to its terms

You apply using Form N92, which is available from your local County Court or online from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website. There is no application fee.

Benefits of an Administration Order

• Creditor protection: creditors included in the order cannot take further action against you without the court’s permission
• Single monthly payment: the court deals with your creditors and distributes your payments for you
• Flexibility: if your circumstances worsen, 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
• No insolvency record: a CCAO is not a form of insolvency, so you will not appear on the Individual Insolvency Register

Things to consider

• Creditors can object: your creditors can ask the court to exclude them from the order, though the court does not have to agree
• Keep up payments: if you fall behind, the order can be revoked and your creditors can pursue you individually again
• Attachment of earnings: if you miss payments while employed, the court can order your employer to deduct money directly from your wages
• All unsecured debts included: you cannot pick and choose which creditors to include. All unsecured debts must be part of the order
• Credit file impact: the Administration Order will be recorded on your credit file and may affect your ability to borrow for up to six years

What is a Composition Order?

A Composition Order is a variation of a CCAO where the court orders you to repay only a percentage of your total debt. The remaining balance is written off. This is typically considered when the court believes you will never be able to repay the full amount within a reasonable time.

How does a CCAO compare to other options?

A CCAO is just one of several ways to deal with unmanageable debt. Depending on your circumstances, you may also want to consider:

• Debt Relief Order (DRO): suitable if your total debts are under £50,000, you have minimal assets, and your disposable income is £75 or less per month
• Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): a formal agreement with your creditors to repay a portion of your debts over a fixed period, typically five or six years
• Debt Management Plan (DMP): an informal arrangement to repay your debts at a reduced rate you can afford
• Bankruptcy: if your debts are too large to manage and you have no realistic way to repay them, bankruptcy may be the most appropriate route. The current application fee is £680.

Each option has its own eligibility criteria and consequences. We recommend speaking to a qualified debt adviser before making a decision.

This page provides general information only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. If you are struggling with debt, please seek professional guidance from a qualified adviser.