Principal scope: England and Wales
Scotland and Northern Ireland use different procedures

Civil enforcement information

Civil Enforcement Glossary

Definitions are general. The document and statutory scheme in the individual case remain controlling.

Creditor
The person or body to whom money is owed or who is entitled to enforce an order.
Judgment creditor
A creditor with a court judgment or order capable of enforcement.
Debtor
The person or entity said to owe the sum.
Debt collector
A person or business seeking voluntary payment without gaining statutory enforcement powers merely from a demand letter.
Enforcement agent
An individual entitled to act under an enforcement power, including the Schedule 12 taking-control-of-goods procedure where applicable.
County Court bailiff
An HMCTS officer who enforces specified County Court warrants.
High Court Enforcement Officer
An authorised officer responsible for execution of specified High Court writs.
Notice of Enforcement
The prescribed notice ordinarily given before goods are taken into control.
Warrant of control
A County Court or other warrant authorising the applicable enforcement process.
Writ of control
A High Court writ used to enforce a money judgment through taking control of goods.
Taking control of goods
The statutory process of securing goods for possible sale to recover a sum.
Controlled goods agreement
An agreement recording controlled goods left in place subject to restrictions and payment terms.
Exempt goods
Goods protected by the applicable statutory exemption.
Stay of execution
A court order pausing or limiting execution.
Set aside
A court order cancelling a judgment or order, subject to the applicable legal test.
Third-party claim
A claim that controlled or executed goods belong to someone other than the debtor.
Vulnerability
Circumstances that may affect a person’s ability to understand or engage and may require safeguards or adjustments.

Review status

Legal content reviewed against the sources identified on this page on 27 July 2026. The next review is due on 27 July 2028.