Form N342 Judgment Summons UK: How to Apply

What this document is

A judgment summons is a court order that requires a debtor to attend a hearing to explain their failure to pay a sum already ordered by the court. Form N342 is the document a creditor files to start that process.

Unlike some enforcement methods, judgment summonses are not available for every type of debt. They are used mainly in connection with debts where a statutory right of committal still exists, which in practice tends to cover matters such as maintenance arrears under certain court orders, unpaid tax, and unpaid contributions owed to HMRC or the state.

Ordinary commercial or consumer debts are usually enforced through other routes, such as a warrant of control, an attachment of earnings order or a charging order. The form captures the judgment details, the outstanding balance, any instalments missed, and the supporting evidence.

Once filed with the appropriate fee, the court fixes a hearing and arranges for the debtor to be served so they can attend and respond.

How to use this document

1. Confirm this is the right enforcement route. Judgment summonses apply to a narrow category of debts. Before filing, check that your judgment falls within the types of order this procedure covers. If it is a standard money judgment from a commercial or consumer dispute, a different enforcement method is usually more appropriate and more likely to recover funds.
2. Gather your judgment paperwork and payment history. You will need the original judgment or order, a clear record of what has been paid and what remains outstanding, and details of any interest that has accrued. For debts above the threshold that attract statutory interest, the court will expect a breakdown showing how the current balance has been calculated up to the date of your request.
3. Complete Form N342 accurately. Fill in the names and addresses of both parties, describe the nature of the debt, and set out the sums involved. The form also asks you to certify that instalments due under the judgment have not been paid and to give the evidence supporting that statement. Accuracy matters here because the debtor will see exactly what you have claimed.
4. File the form and pay the court fee. Send the completed form to the court that issued the original judgment, together with the applicable fee. Fees change from time to time, so check the current amount on gov.uk before sending payment. If you want the summons served by post rather than by bailiff, you can ask the court to do that, provided you reasonably believe it will reach the debtor in time.
5. Attend the hearing and be ready to give evidence. The court will fix a date and notify both sides. At the hearing, the debtor may be questioned about their means and their reasons for non-payment. You should be prepared to produce your records and answer questions about what has and has not been received. The judge can then make further orders depending on what emerges.

Common questions