Personal administration order
A County Court repayment arrangement for eligible individuals with a judgment debt and limited total debts.
A personal administration order brings eligible debts into a County Court repayment arrangement. The individual makes a regular payment to the court, which distributes it among creditors. This is a personal debt procedure and must not be confused with a company entering administration.
The conditions and application
The route requires a qualifying court judgment, more than one creditor, debts within the current statutory ceiling and an ability to make regular payments. The debt total includes the relevant interest and charges. A person should check the current official criteria before completing an application.
The N92 form asks for creditors, judgment details, finances and the amount proposed. It comes with guidance notes. Accurate creditor names, balances, any security and details of other people liable help the court understand the whole position rather than only the judgment that prompted the application.
What the court decides
The court considers the affordable payment, the amount to be paid and the arrangement’s duration. Creditors can raise relevant objections. The result is a court order; a self-prepared repayment proposal does not have the same effect.
Where the court orders payment of only part of the debt, that is a composition arrangement. It is important to know whether the order requires full repayment or a composition, because the expected period and final debt treatment differ.
Technical detail
The personal administration-order framework belongs to the County Court legislation and procedure. It is distinct from corporate administration under the Insolvency Act 1986.
Payments and protection
Payments go to the court for distribution, with the applicable administration costs. Creditors included in the order cannot simply pursue covered debts outside it without the required permission. Check what the actual order includes and what it leaves outside.
The individual must keep up the payments and deal with changes in affordability. Missed payments can lead to further measures or revocation. Current household bills and new debts still need their own payment arrangements.
Completion, records and alternatives
Completion depends on satisfying the order, including the relevant costs, rather than reaching a universally fixed anniversary. A composition order changes the required debt treatment only on its proper terms.
Administration orders are recorded publicly and can affect credit. Keep the order and evidence of payments and completion. Compare the route with a DRO, IVA, bankruptcy or voluntary arrangement; having a court judgment does not establish that this is the most suitable option.
The process, at a glance
- Check conditions. Confirm judgments, creditor numbers, current debt ceiling and affordable regular payment.Process stage — practical timing varies
- Prepare form N92. Provide complete creditor, judgment, income and expenditure information.Process stage — practical timing varies
- Court considers the arrangement. The court decides payments, inclusion and any composition treatment.Process stage — practical timing varies
- Make payments to court. The court distributes funds and the individual must comply with the order.Process stage — practical timing varies
- Satisfy the order. Obtain and retain evidence of the arrangement’s completion.Process stage — practical timing varies
Sources & review
Read the source in its own context. Legislation may contain commencement provisions and changes not yet applied to the displayed text. Professional guidance is identified separately from law.
Initial source-based editorial review: 26 Oct 2026. Next scheduled review: 26 Jan 2027. Substantive changes are reviewed before publication.
Original editorial summary checked against the linked official guidance. Individual circumstances and the operative legal documents can change the outcome.
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