An administration order is a way to deal with debt if you have a county court or High Court judgment against you and you cannot pay in full.

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The debt must be less than £5,000.

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You make 1 payment a month to your local court. The court will divide this money between your creditors.

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Creditors listed on the administration order cannot take any further action against you without the court’s permission.

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Get an administration order

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Fill in an application for an administration order (form N92) and return it to your local court.

 

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The court decides:

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how much of your debt you have to repay, for example all or just part of it how much your monthly repayments will be

how long the arrangement lasts

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The arrangement is known as a ‘composition order’ if you cannot pay all your debts.

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Costs

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There’s a court fee each time you make a payment. This cannot be more than 10% of your debt.

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Example

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If you owe £5,000 the total fee cannot be more than £500.

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Eligibility

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You must:

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owe less than £5,000, including any interest and charges

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owe money to at least 2 creditors

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prove you can afford regular repayments, for example by giving details of your income

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have a county court or High Court judgment against you, which you cannot pay in full

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Your responsibilities

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You must keep up your repayments or the court can:

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ask your employer take money from your wages – known as an ‘attachment of earnings order’

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cancel the arrangement

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You may still be able to keep your business running, if you have one.

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Public records

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Your administration order is added to the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.

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It’s usually removed 6 years after the date the order was made.

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Your entry is marked as ‘satisfied’ if you repay your debts in full.

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You can also ask the court for a ‘certificate of satisfaction’. To do this, write to the court and send a cheque for £16 (made payable to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service).