Form N324 UK: Warrant of Delivery of Goods Guide

What this document is

Form N324 is the court form used in England and Wales to ask the County Court to issue a warrant of delivery of goods. A warrant of delivery is an enforcement tool. It authorises a County Court bailiff to attend the debtor's premises and recover goods that a court has already ordered them to hand over.

The underlying order typically arises from a judgment where the court has found that specific items belong to the creditor or must be returned to them, such as in hire purchase disputes or claims involving goods wrongly retained. There are two flavours of this warrant.

One requires the bailiff to recover the goods themselves. The other gives the debtor a choice: return the goods or pay their assessed value. The form asks you to set out the parties, the claim reference, the value of the goods, any outstanding debt, damages or costs, and a schedule describing each item.

A fee is payable when you lodge the request, and you should check gov.uk for the current amount before sending anything in.

How to use this document

1. Confirm you have a qualifying judgment. Before you can apply for a warrant of delivery, the court must already have made an order requiring the debtor to deliver up specific goods. Without that underlying judgment, there is nothing for a bailiff to enforce, so check your paperwork carefully and make sure the order clearly identifies the items in question. 2. Gather the details you will need. You will need the claim number, the court where the judgment was made, the full names and addresses of both creditor and debtor, and a precise list of the goods to be recovered. If costs, damages or an unpaid balance are still outstanding, have those figures ready too, along with a fee account number if your firm or business uses one. 3. Complete and sign Form N324 accurately. Fill in every section that applies to your claim, taking care with the schedule of goods because this is what the bailiff will rely on when attending the property. Vague descriptions can slow enforcement down or create disputes on the doorstep, so be as specific as you reasonably can about make, model or any identifying features. 4. Submit the form with the correct fee. Send the completed and signed form to the County Court, along with payment of the issue fee. The fee can change from time to time, so check gov.uk for the current figure rather than relying on older guidance. Keep a copy of everything you send for your own records. 5. Update the court if anything changes. If the debtor pays any part of the outstanding sum, returns some of the goods voluntarily, or if the dispute is resolved in any other way after you have lodged the form, you must tell the court straight away. Enforcement action is based on the figures and items in your request, so keeping the court informed avoids problems later.

Common questions