There are four stages, as follows:

Compliance Stage

The process starts with the Compliance stage. All High Court Enforcement companies will have to send a ‘Notice of Enforcement’ (NoE) to the judgment debtor.

With effect from 1st May 2026, this notice gives them 14 clear days, excluding Sundays and bank holidays, to make payment in full to prevent the attendance of an Enforcement Agent (EA) to seize goods.

If a debtor is working with a debt advice provider, they may apply to extend the notice period to 28 days, before the expiry of the NoE. This applies to debtors and debt types that are covered within the Breathing Space legislation introduced in 2020.

Sending the Notice of Enforcement triggers the fee for this stage - check here for the current enforcement fees.

Enforcement Stage 1

If the debtor fails to make contact with the HCEO during the Compliance Stage, an EA will attend their premises to take control of goods.

This stage is known as Enforcement Stage 1 - check here for the current enforcement fees.

If, when the EA attends, the debtor pays in full immediately or agrees to an acceptable instalment arrangement, then the matter ends there.

Enforcement Stage 2

If the debtor refuses either to make any payment or to enter into an acceptable instalment arrangement covered by a controlled goods agreement at Enforcement Stage 1, then the matter can move to Enforcement Stage 2.

If a payment arrangement, with a signed controlled goods agreement, is subsequently breached, the EA will re-attend the property under Enforcement Stage 2 and may escalate escalate to the Sales or Disposal Stage, depending upon the circumstances so far.

The fee for Enforcement Stage 2 - - check here for the current enforcement fees..

Sale or Disposal Stage

Should enforcement get to the point where goods actually need to be removed, the enforcement progresses to the Sale or Disposal Stage.

The fee for this stage - check here for the current enforcement fees.

However, if the HCEO anticipates exceptionally high removal costs far greater than the Sale Stage fee, for example specialist equipment and personnel to remove an aircraft, he can apply to the court to have these added to the amount payable by the debtor.

The only other fees chargeable (without application to court) are for disbursements such as locksmiths, storage and auctioneers' fees.