Overview
Summary
A full Glossary of terms used in the summary can be found in the Q4 2025 Stats Book (pdf)
- Q4 2025 saw a high inflow, yet the Register fell slightly - 295,490 new judgments were added in Q4 2025, but deletions and cancellations outweighed additions, leaving the Register down 0.4% to 5,376,235 records.
- Consumer judgments remained elevated year‑on‑year - 257,699 consumer judgments were recorded in Q4 2025 and sat just above the five‑quarter average (251,365).
- Commercial judgments eased from earlier peaks - Q4 2025 saw 37,791 commercial judgments, below the five‑quarter average (42,245).
- Small-value debts make up a large share of unpaid judgments - In England & Wales, about 4.1 million consumer judgments remain unsatisfied; 39% are for amounts below £500.
Key Facts About the Register
The Register contains 5.4 million records with a total value of £13.0 billion.
88.2% of records on the Register are unsatisfied judgments and 11.8% are satisfied judgments.
There were 5,376,235 judgments on the Register at the end of Q4 2025. This is a fall of 0.4% since the end of Q3 2025, when there were 5,399,049 judgments on the Register.
From 1st October 2025 to 1st January 2026, 295,490 new judgments were recorded on the Register, accounting for 5.5% of judgments.
289,342 judgments have been deleted from the Register as the six-year threshold has been exceeded - this represents 5.4%.
28,962 judgments were cancelled, further reducing the number on the Register by 0.5%.
88.2% of the records on the Register are consumer judgments and 11.8% are commercial judgments.
257,699 new consumer judgments were registered in Q4 2025, 9.6% less than the previous quarter and 8.8% more than Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments averaged 251,365. Q3 2025’s spike faded in Q4 2025, but the quarter stayed slightly above that average.
Total new consumer judgments rose by 11.6% in 2025 compared to 2024, surpassing 1 million to reach 1,019,900.
37,791 new commercial judgments were recorded in Q4 2025 — down by 5.5% from the previous quarter and up by 8.1% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments averaged 42,245. Volumes eased from a Q1 2025 peak, with Q4 2025 ending below that average.
Total new commercial judgments rose by 1.9% in 2025 from 2024, reaching 176,274.
97.2% (5,227,457) of judgments on the Register were assigned to England and Wales and therefore make up far and away the biggest data set.
ENGLAND AND WALES:
288,538 new consumer and commercial judgments were registered in England and Wales in Q4 2025, which is an 8.9% decrease from the previous quarter and a 9.4% increase from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer and commercial judgments in England and Wales averaged 285,518. Q3 2025’s spike faded in Q4 2025, but the quarter stayed just above that average.
Consumer judgments in England and Wales:
252,753 new consumer judgments were registered in England and Wales in Q4 2025, a 9.4% decrease from the previous quarter and a 9.5% increase from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments in England and Wales averaged 245,399. Q3 2025’s spike faded in Q4 2025, but the quarter stayed slightly above that average.
Total new consumer judgments in England and Wales rose by 11.8% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching almost 1 million (996,261).
Commercial judgments in England and Wales:
35,785 new commercial judgments have been added to the Register in Q4 2025 in England and Wales, which is a 4.9% decrease from the previous quarter and an 8.6% increase from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments in England and Wales averaged 40,120. Volumes eased from a Q1 2025 peak, with Q4 2025 ending below that average.
Total new commercial judgments in England and Wales rose by 1.4% in 2025 from 2024, reaching 167,642.
SCOTLAND:
4,536 new judgments were registered in Scotland in Q4 2025, which is a 16.1% decrease from the previous quarter and a 21.6% decrease from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new judgments in Scotland averaged 5,408. Volumes eased through 2025, with Q4 2025 (4,536) landing well below that average.
Consumer judgments in Scotland:
3,249 new consumer judgments were registered in Scotland in Q4 2025, which is a 18.9% decrease from the previous quarter and 27.8% less than in Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments in Scotland averaged 4,102. Activity trended down, with Q4 2025 finishing well below the average.
Total new consumer judgments in Scotland rose by 4.1% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 16,007.
Commercial judgments in Scotland:
1,287 new commercial judgments were registered in Scotland in Q4 2025, which is an 8.0% decrease from the previous quarter and almost the same value as Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments in Scotland averaged 1,307. After a Q3 uptick, Q4 2025 edged slightly below the average.
Total new commercial judgments in Scotland rose by 16.8% in 2025 from 2024, reaching 5,248.
NORTHERN IRELAND:
1,221 new consumer and commercial judgments were registered in Northern Ireland in Q4 2025, which is a 9.6% decrease from the previous quarter and an increase of 1.4% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer and commercial judgments in Northern Ireland averaged 1,307. After a Q2 2025 spike, volumes eased, with Q4 (1,221) finishing below the average.
Consumer judgments in Northern Ireland:
920 new consumer judgments were registered in Northern Ireland in Q4 2025, which is a 7.4% decrease from the previous quarter and an increase of 2.1% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments in Northern Ireland averaged 980. Following a Q2 2025 peak, activity cooled, and Q4 2025 (920) ended below the average.
Total new consumer judgments in Northern Ireland declined by 4.3% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 4,001.
Commercial judgments in Northern Ireland:
301 new commercial judgments were registered in Northern Ireland in Q4 2025, a 15.7% decrease from the previous quarter and a decrease of 0.7% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments in Northern Ireland averaged 327. After a Q3 2025 uptick, Q4 2025 (301) edged below the average.
Total new commercial judgments in Northern Ireland declined by 9.1% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 1,332.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
910 new judgments were registered in the Republic of Ireland in Q4 2025, a 28.5% decrease from the previous quarter and an increase of 5.6% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new judgments averaged 1,022. After a Q3 2025 peak, volumes eased, with Q4 2025 (910) finishing below the average.
Consumer judgments in Republic of Ireland:
527 new consumer judgments were registered in the Republic of Ireland in Q4 2025, a 29.1% decrease from the previous quarter and a decrease of 1.5% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments in the Republic of Ireland averaged 590. Following a Q3 2025 high, Q4 2025 (527) ended below the average.
Total new consumer judgments in the Republic of Ireland increased by 25.0% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 2,413.
Commercial judgments in Republic of Ireland:
383 new commercial judgments were registered in the Republic of Ireland in Q4 2025, a 27.7% decrease from the previous quarter and an increase of 17.1% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments in the Republic of Ireland averaged 432. Activity cooled after Q3 2025, with Q4 2025 (383) below the average.
Total new commercial judgments in the Republic of Ireland increased by 29.9% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 1,835.
JERSEY:
186 new judgments were registered in Jersey in Q4 2025, a 11.4% decrease from the previous quarter and a decrease of 16.6% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new judgments in Jersey averaged 235. After a Q1 2025 peak, volumes eased, with Q4 2025 (186) finishing below that average.
Consumer judgments in Jersey:
166 new consumer judgments were registered in Jersey in Q4 2025, the same number as the previous quarter and an increase of 5.1% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments in Jersey averaged 192. Following a Q1 2025 surge, activity softened, and Q4 2025 (166) ended below the average.
Total new consumer judgments in Jersey decreased by 14.0% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 803.
Commercial judgments in Jersey:
20 new commercial judgments were registered in Jersey in Q4 2025.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments in Jersey averaged 42. Volumes drifted lower over 2025, with Q4 2025 (20) well below the average.
ISLE OF MAN:
99 new judgments were registered in the Isle of Man in Q4 2025, a 15.1% increase from the previous quarter and a decrease of 11.6% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new judgments in the Isle of Man averaged 119. After a Q1 2025 peak, volumes eased, with Q4 2025 (99) finishing below that average.
Consumer judgments in the Isle of Man:
84 new consumer judgments were registered in the Isle of Man in Q4 2025, a 10.5% increase from the previous quarter and a decrease of 12.5% from Q4 2024.
Across the last five quarters, new consumer judgments in the Isle of Man averaged 102. Following a Q1 2025 high, Q4 2025 (84) ended below the average.
Commercial judgments in the Isle of Man:
15 new commercial judgments have been added to the Register in the Isle of Man in Q4 2025.
Across the last five quarters, new commercial judgments in the Isle of Man averaged 17. After a Q1 2025 peak, Q4 2025 (15) was slightly below the average.
Q4 2025 Stats Book Now Available
Explore the latest insights and data in our Q4 2025 Stats Book (pdf)
Data Enquiries?
Get in touch with us at: DataAnalysis@registry-trust.org.uk
Media Enquiries?
Get in touch with us at: press@registry-trust.org.uk
Need to Check a CCJ?
Verify the County Court Judgment (CCJ) status of an individual or business through our TrustOnline service:
Access TrustOnline