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Form N293A UK: High Court Writ of Control Guide

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Part ofCounty Court Forms UK

Written by Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)
Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice.
Updated June 2026 · England & Wales
If you've secured a County Court Judgment (CCJ) but the debtor still isn't paying, you may have reached the limit of what County Court enforcement can achieve. Transferring your judgment up to the High Court is often the next practical step, and Form N293A is the mechanism that gets you there. Once transferred, a High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) takes over the job of recovering what you're owed, and in many cases they bring a level of authority and momentum that County Court bailiffs simply don't. This page walks through what Form N293A does, when transferring up makes sense, how the process unfolds, and the costs involved. If you want to talk any of this through with an experienced legal adviser before committing, the call option at the end of the page is there for that purpose.

What this document is

Form N293A is a combined certificate of judgment and writ of control. It serves two functions at once: it certifies the existence and terms of your County Court Judgment, and it requests that the judgment be transferred to the High Court so a writ of control can be issued.

A writ of control is the High Court equivalent of a County Court warrant, and it authorises a High Court Enforcement Officer to take control of goods belonging to the debtor in order to satisfy the debt. Not every judgment can be transferred up this way.

The outstanding sum generally needs to exceed a minimum threshold, judgments regulated by the Consumer Credit Act cannot be transferred to the High Court, and the judgment must not already be subject to a stay. When the form is accepted, the County Court seals it and it takes effect as a High Court writ, allowing enforcement action to begin.

How to use this document

  1. Check the judgment qualifies for transfer. Confirm the debt falls within the value range that permits transfer to the High Court and that the judgment isn't a regulated consumer credit agreement. If there's a stay in place or the debtor has applied to set the judgment aside, transfer won't be possible until those issues are resolved.
  2. Complete Form N293A in full. You'll need to fill in the judgment details, the amount outstanding including interest, the debtor's current address, and your own contact details. Accuracy matters here, because errors can delay the sealing of the writ or cause problems later when the HCEO attempts to attend the debtor's premises.
  3. Submit the form to the County Court with the court fee. Lodge the completed N293A at the County Court that issued the original judgment, along with the applicable court fee. Check gov.uk for the current amount, as fees are updated periodically. The court will process the transfer and seal the writ once satisfied everything is in order.
  4. Instruct a High Court Enforcement Officer. Once the writ has been sealed, it needs to be sent to an HCEO or enforcement company for execution. Most HCEOs operate on a commercial basis and will handle the paperwork and allocation. They'll then enter the compliance stage, writing to the debtor and giving them an opportunity to pay before enforcement agents attend in person.
  5. Monitor enforcement and recover the debt. The HCEO will keep you updated as matters progress through the compliance, enforcement and (where necessary) sale stages. If the debtor engages and pays, the matter can close quickly. If not, enforcement agents can attend the debtor's premises to take control of goods, which are later sold if the debt remains unpaid.

Common questions

If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.

Common questions

Q When can I transfer a County Court Judgment to the High Court?
Transfer is generally available where the judgment debt exceeds a set minimum sum and is not regulated by the Consumer Credit Act. The judgment also needs to be enforceable, meaning it's not subject to a stay, suspension, or pending set-aside application. Judgments for possession of land or money owed under a consumer credit regulated agreement cannot be transferred up in this way.
Q How long does the transfer process take?
Timescales vary between courts, but sealing of the writ typically takes a couple of weeks from the point the court receives a correctly completed N293A and the fee. Busy court offices can take longer. Once the writ is sealed and in the hands of an HCEO, the compliance stage usually begins within a few days and written notice is sent to the debtor.
Q Who pays the High Court enforcement fees?
The fees charged by the HCEO are generally recovered from the debtor rather than the creditor, and they're added to the sum the debtor has to pay. Different fixed fees apply at the compliance, enforcement and sale stages. Check the current fee scale on gov.uk before you proceed, because the amounts are set by regulation and can change.
Q What happens if the debtor can't be found?
The HCEO needs an accurate address to attend. If the debtor has moved and you don't have up-to-date details, enforcement will stall. A professional tracing service can often locate the debtor using electoral roll data, credit footprints and other sources. It's worth doing this before transfer rather than paying the court fee and then discovering the address is wrong.
Q Is High Court enforcement more effective than County Court bailiffs?
In many cases, yes. HCEOs operate on a commercial basis with a direct incentive to recover the debt, and the writ of control carries more weight than a County Court warrant. That said, enforcement outcomes ultimately depend on whether the debtor has assets or income to satisfy the judgment. A stubborn debtor with nothing to seize is a difficult case regardless of which court is involved.
Q Can the debtor stop the writ once it has been issued?
The debtor can apply to the court for a stay of execution, typically on the basis that they cannot pay in full immediately but can offer reasonable instalments. If granted, enforcement pauses while the debtor complies with the payment schedule. They can also apply to set aside the underlying judgment, though that requires proper grounds and is separate from the enforcement process.
Q Do I need a solicitor to use Form N293A?
No. The form is designed to be completed by the judgment creditor directly, and many creditors handle the paperwork themselves or work directly with an HCEO firm. If your circumstances are more complex, for example the debtor has disputed the debt or you're unsure whether the judgment qualifies for transfer, speaking to someone with legal experience before you file is sensible.
If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.

Sources

This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.

Brad Askew, Solicitor (non-practising)

Written & reviewed by

Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)

Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice. LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice.

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Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.