What is an Administration Order
An administration order is a way to deal with debt if you have a county court or High Court judgment against you and you cannot pay in full.
The debt must be less than £5,000.
You make one payment a month to your local court. The court will divide this money between your creditors.
Creditors listed on the administration order cannot take any further action against you without the court’s permission.
How to apply for an Administration Order
In order to get an Administration Order you will need to fill in an application for an administration order (form N92) and return it to your local court.
The court decides:
- how much of your debt you have to repay, for example all or just part of it
- how much your monthly repayments will be
- how long the arrangement lasts
The arrangement is known as a ‘composition order’ if you cannot pay all your debts.
There’s a court fee each time you make a payment. This cannot be more than 10% of your debt.
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- owe less than £5,000, including any interest and charges
- owe money to at least 2 creditors
- prove you can afford regular repayments, for example by giving details of your income
- have a county court or High Court judgment against you, which you cannot pay in full
Effect of an Administration Order
Your administration order is added to the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. It’s usually removed 6 years after the date the order was made. Your entry is marked as ‘satisfied’ if you repay your debts in full.
The details of your Administration Order will be visible on your credit history file, with the credit reference agencies, for six years. This could make it harder for you to open a current account or acquire further credit facilities after the order has finished.
You can ask the court for a ‘certificate of satisfaction’. To do this, write to the court and send a cheque for £19 (made payable to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service).
Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Ashford Advice