2025 figures are already at 57% of last year’s total.
In the latest detailed figures compiled and released by The Registry Trust, the number of County Court Judgements awarded against business had fallen slightly in the previous quarter but were still higher than in the same period a year ago.
Between April 1st and June 30th 2025, there were 47,331 new judgments made against businesses in England and Wales. This total is 7.5% lower than the first three months of the year (which themselves had jumped 46.4% quarter-on-quarter) but were 4.1% higher than Q2 in 2024.
The number of judgements are still on trajectory to surpass the 173,025 seen in 2024, which itself was an increase of 35.5% annually. The first quarter numbers of 2025 alone were a third of the yearly total from 2024 by themselves.
Now the second quarter numbers are in, the total is 57% of 2024’s total – the highest in the past six years – suggesting a continued and accelerating upward trend.
The majority of judgements on the register – 87.8% – still remain unsatisfied. 38% of these judgements are for amounts of £500 or below.
In Scotland there were 1,319 commercial judgments in Q2 which is a 6.1% increase on the previous quarter and a 2% annual increase from Q2 2024.
Northern Ireland saw 329 commercial judgments which was a 4.6% decrease from the previous quarter and an 8.9% decrease from the same time period in 2024.
A County Court Judgement (CCJ) significantly increases any company’s risk of insolvency, but sole traders are exposed to even greater jeopardy. Unlike limited companies, which provide legal protection for personal finances, sole traders are not considered separate from their business. Consequently, if they receive a CCJ, they may be required to settle outstanding business debts using their personal assets and bank accounts.
It is important to distinguish a CCJ from a winding-up petition, which can legally compel a company to pay its debts or face compulsory liquidation. Instead, a CCJ grants High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs), or bailiffs, the authority to enter business premises and seize assets up to the value of the debt. For a sole trader, this can include their home.
The repercussions of a CCJ extend further. They are publicly recorded on the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines, making them visible to creditors, customers, and suppliers. Furthermore, an unpaid CCJ remains on a business’s credit file for six years, making it more difficult and expensive to secure future borrowing.
Chris Horner, insolvency director with BusinessRescueExpert, explains, “Receiving a CCJ doesn’t mean that a business is definitely going to go into insolvency or be liquidated – but it’s a distinct probability.”
He advises that struggling businesses often have more options than they realise. “They’ll only find out for definite what they can do if they have a conversation with an expert first,”
This is why we offer a free initial consultation to help owners fully understand their position. The sooner they take action, the better for their business.