Aids to enforcement

Information hearings

The purpose of an information hearing (formerly known as an oral examination) is to establish the income, assets and liabilities of the debtor. It is a useful means of identifying the most appropriate method of enforcement. The judgment debtor's answers are taken on oath and are subject to the usual perjury rules. The judgment creditor/their representative may attend and may ask additional questions by attaching a list of proposed additional questions to the application notice.

See Practice Note: Orders to obtain information from judgment debtors.

Obtaining the address of the debtor

Where a debtor's whereabouts are unknown, an application may be made for the court to request the disclosure from a government department, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, of the address of the judgment debtor. Family Procedure Rules 2010, PD 6C sets out the procedure and the information to be provided to the government department. Requirements differ depending on whether the application relates to proceedings issued prior to or on or after 6 April 2022.

See Practice Note: Obtaining address of debtor.

Notices and restrictions

Notices