Bailiffs and Enforcement Officers

Bailiffs and enforcement officers are authorised to remove and sell a person's possessions in order to pay money owed to a person or organisation. In some cases they may also have authority to conduct evictions and arrest people.

Bailiffs and enforcement officers have differing roles, depending on the person or organisation on whose behalf they are working. Please read the leaflet EX345 About Bailiffs and Enforcement Officers for detailed information on their responsibilities, how they work, and how to make a complaint about them.

If you have a county court judgment which you wish to enforce, please read the page on Enforcing Judgment.

If a certificated bailiff attends your home, you can ask to see their certificate, and ask for their name, company name, a telephone contact number and a list of fees. If you do not pay the money you owe, substantial bailiffs' fees and charges may be added to the original amount owed.

Directory of High Court Enforcement Officers

The Directory of High Court Enforcement Officers (PDF, 390 kB) contains names of enforcement officers in England and Wales who have been authorised to execute High Court writs under the provisions contained in Section 99 and Schedule 7 of the Courts Act 2003.

For more information about High Court Enforcement, including the complaints procedure, visit the High Court Enforcement Officers Association website.

Certificated Bailiff Register

The Certificated Bailiff Register allows you to find out which county court issued a certificated bailiff's latest certificate.

To look for the details of a bailiff's certificate, type the bailiff's surname into the search box on the Register page, and click 'Find'. The search will show you all bailiffs whose surname matches exactly what you have typed. Alternatively, if you leave the search box blank and click 'Find', you can browse the whole list.

If you have searched the Register but are unable to find the certificated bailiff that you are looking for, please contact HMCS Operations Team on 020 3334 6355 between 10am and 4pm. The HMCS Operations Team will search the Register for you and will be able to advise you of the county court that issued the bailiff's latest certificate. They are unable to advise you on any other matters.

For general enquiries please see our Contact Us page