Charging Orders Act 1979

1979 CHAPTER 53

An Act to make provision for imposing charges to secure payment of money due, or to become due, under judgments or orders of court; to provide for restraining and prohibiting dealings with, and the making of payments in respect of, certain securities; and for connected purposes.

[6th December 1979]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Power to apply conferred by Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41, SIF 81:1), ss. 22, 142, Sch. 4 para. 28(2)

C2 Act: power to apply conferred (6.3.1992) by Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14), s. 14(3), Sch. 4 para. 19(1)(2)(3).

Commencement Information

I1 Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 8(2); Act wholly in force at 3.6.1980.

Charging orders E+W

1 Charging orders. E+W

(1) Where, under a judgment or order of the High Court [F1 or the family court] or [F2 the county court], a person (the “debtor”) is required to pay a sum of money to another person (the “creditor”) then, for the purpose of enforcing that judgment or order, the appropriate court may make an order in accordance with the provisions of this Act imposing on any such property of the debtor as may be specified in the order a charge for securing the payment of any money due or to become due under the judgment or order.

(2) The appropriate court is—

(a) in a case where the property to be charged is a fund in court, the court in which that fund is lodged;

(b) in a case where paragraph (a) above does not apply and the order to be enforced is a maintenance order of the High Court [F3 or an order for costs made in family proceedings in the High Court], the High Court or [F4 the family] court;

[F5 (ba) in a case where paragraph (a) does not apply and the order to be enforced is an order of the family court, the family court;]

(c) in a case where [F6 none of paragraphs (a), (b) and (ba)] above applies and the judgment or order to be enforced is a judgment or order of the High Court for a sum exceeding [F7 the county court limit], the High Court [F8 or [F9 the county court]]; and

(d) in any other case, [F9 the county court].

In this section [F10 “county court limit” means the county court limit for the time being specified in an Order in Council under [F11 section 145 of the County Courts Act 1984] as the county court limit for the purposes of this section and] “maintenance order” has the same meaning as in section 2(a) of the M1 Attachment of Earnings Act 1971.

(3) An order under subsection (1) above is referred to in this Act as a “charging order”.

(4) Where a person applies to the High Court for a charging order to enforce more than one judgment or order, that court shall be the appropriate court in relation to the application if it would be the appropriate court, apart from this subsection, on an application relating to one or more of the judgments or orders concerned.

(5) In deciding whether to make a charging order the court shall consider all the circumstances of the case and, in particular, any evidence before it as to—

(a) the personal circumstances of the debtor, and

(b) whether any other creditor of the debtor would be likely to be unduly prejudiced by the making of the order.

[F12 (6) Subsections (7) and (8) apply where, under a judgment or order of the High Court [F13 or the family court] or [F14 the county court], a debtor is required to pay a sum of money by instalments.

(7) The fact that there has been no default in payment of the instalments does not prevent a charging order from being made in respect of that sum.

(8) But if there has been no default, the court must take that into account when considering the circumstances of the case under subsection (5).]

[F15 (9) In this section “family proceedings” means proceedings in the Family Division of the High Court which are business assigned, by or under section 61 of (and Schedule 1 to) the Senior Courts Act 1981, to that Division of the High Court and no other.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 1(1) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(2); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F2 Words in s. 1(1) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F3 Words in s. 1(2)(b) inserted (22.4.2014) by The Crime and Courts Act 2013 (Family Court: Consequential Provision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/605), arts. 1, 15

F4 Words in s. 1(2)(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(3); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F5 S. 1(2)(ba) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(4); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F6 Words in s. 1(2)(c) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(5); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F7 Words in s. 1(2)(c) substituted for sum by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 34), s. 37, Sch. 3 paras. 2, 3(b)(iv)

F8 Words inserted by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 34), s. 34(3)

F9 Words in s. 1(2)(c)(d) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F10 Words inserted by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 34), s. 37, Sch. 3 para. 6

F11 Words substituted by County Courts Act 1984 (c. 28, SIF 34), s. 148(1), Sch. 2 para.71

F12 S. 1(6)-(8) inserted (1.10.2012) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 93(2)(6), 148; S.I. 2012/1312, art. 3

F13 Words in s. 1(6) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(2); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F14 Words in s. 1(6) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F15 S. 1(9) inserted (22.4.2014) by The Crime and Courts Act 2013 (Family Court: Consequential Provision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/605), arts. 1, 16

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 1: definition of "charging order" applied (5.4.1993) by Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48, SIF 20), s. 36(2), (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 1992/2644, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1971 c. 32.

2 Property which may be charged. E+W

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, a charge may be imposed by a charging order only on—

(a) any interest held by the debtor beneficially—

(i) in any asset of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) below, or

(ii) under any trust; or

(b) any interest held by a person as trustee of a trust (“the trust”), if the interest is in such an asset or is an interest under another trust and—

(i) the judgment or order in respect of which a charge is to be imposed was made against that person as trustee of the trust, or

(ii) the whole beneficial interest under the trust is held by the debtor unencumbered and for his own benefit, or

(iii) in a case where there are two or more debtors all of whom are liable to the creditor for the same debt, they together hold the whole beneficial interest under the trust unencumbered and for their own benefit.

(2) The assets referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a) land,

(b) securities of any of the following kinds—

(i) government stock,

(ii) stock of any body (other than a building society) incorporated within England and Wales,

(iii) stock of any body incorporated outside England and Wales or of any state or territory outside the United Kingdom, being stock registered in a register kept at any place within England and Wales,

(iv) units of any unit trust in respect of which a register of the unit holders is kept at any place within England and Wales, or

(c) funds in court.

(3) In any case where a charge is imposed by a charging order on any interest in an asset of a kind mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (2) above, the court making the order may provide for the charge to extend to any interest or dividend payable in respect of the asset.

3 Provisions supplementing sections 1 and 2. E+W

(1) A charging order may be made either absolutely or subject to conditions as to notifying the debtor or as to the time when the charge is to become enforceable, or as to other matters.

(2) The M2 Land Charges Act 1972 and the [F16 Land Registration Act 2002] shall apply in relation to charging orders as they apply in relation to other orders or writs issued or made for the purpose of enforcing judgments.

(3) F17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a charge imposed by a charging order shall have the like effect and shall be enforceable in the same courts and in the same manner as an equitable charge created by the debtor by writing under his hand.

[F18 (4A) Subsections (4C) to (4E) apply where—

(a) a debtor is required to pay a sum of money in instalments under a judgment or order of the High Court [F19 or the family court] or [F20 the county court] (an “instalments order”), and

(b) a charge has been imposed by a charging order in respect of that sum.

(4B) In subsections (4C) to (4E) references to the enforcement of a charge are to the making of an order for the enforcement of the charge.

(4C) The charge may not be enforced unless there has been default in payment of an instalment under the instalments order.

(4D) Rules of court may—

(a) provide that, if there has been default in payment of an instalment, the charge may be enforced only in prescribed cases, and

(b) limit the amounts for which, and the times at which, the charge may be enforced.

(4E) Except so far as otherwise provided by rules of court under subsection (4D)—

(a) the charge may be enforced, if there has been default in payment of an instalment, for the whole of the sum of money secured by the charge and the costs then remaining unpaid, or for such part as the court may order, but

(b) the charge may not be enforced unless, at the time of enforcement, the whole or part of an instalment which has become due under the instalments order remains unpaid.]

(5) The court by which a charging order was made may at any time, on the application of the debtor or of any person interested in any property to which the order relates, make an order discharging or varying the charging order.

(6) Where a charging order has been protected by an entry registered under the Land Charges Act 1972 or the [F16 Land Registration Act 2002], an order under subsection (5) above discharging the charging order may direct that the entry be cancelled.

(7) The Lord Chancellor may by order made by statutory instrument amend section 2(2) of this Act by adding to, or removing from, the kinds of asset for the time being referred to there, any asset of a kind which in his opinion ought to be so added or removed.

(8) Any order under subsection (7) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F16 Words in s. 3(2)(6) substituted (13.10.2003) by Land Registration Act 2002 (c. 9), ss. 133, 136(2), Sch. 11 para. 15 (with s. 129); S.I. 2003/1725, art. 2(1)

F17 S. 3(3) repealed (13.10.2003) by Land Registration Act 2002 (c. 9), ss. 135, 136(2), Sch. 13 (with s. 129, Sch. 12 para. 1); Sch. 11 para. 15 (with s. 129); S.I. 2003/1725, art. 2(1)

F18 S. 3(4A)-(4E) inserted (1.10.2012) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 93(3)(6), 148; S.I. 2012/1312, art. 3

F19 Words in s. 3(4A)(a) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(2); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F20 Words in s. 3(4A)(a) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 3(1)(2)(4)(6) extended by Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45, SIF 66), s. 313(4)(5) (s. 313(5) of the amending Act inserted (1.4.2004) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 261(2)(c), 279 (with s. 249(6)); S.I. 2003/2093, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

Marginal Citations

M2 1972 c. 61.

Prospective

[F21 3A Power to set financial thresholds E+W

(1) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations provide that a charge may not be imposed by a charging order for securing the payment of money of an amount below that determined in accordance with the regulations.

(2) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations provide that a charge imposed by a charging order may not be enforced by way of order for sale to recover money of an amount below that determined in accordance with the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a) make different provision for different cases;

(b) include such transitional provision as the Lord Chancellor thinks fit.

(4) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(5) The Lord Chancellor may not make the first regulations under subsection (1) or (2) unless (in each case) a draft of the statutory instrument containing the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(6) A statutory instrument containing any subsequent regulations under those subsections is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F21 S. 3A inserted (prosp.) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 94, 148(5)

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22 E+W

Textual Amendments

F22 S. 4 repealed by Insolvency Act 1985 (c. 65, SIF 66), s. 235, Sch. 10 Pt. III

Stop orders and notices E+W

5 Stop orders and notices. E+W

(1) In this section—

• “stop order” means an order of the court prohibiting the taking, in respect of any of the securities specified in the order, of any of the steps mentioned in subsection (5) below;

• “stop notice” means a notice requiring any person or body on whom it is duly served to refrain from taking, in respect of any of the securities specified in the notice, any of those steps without first notifying the person by whom, or on whose behalf, the notice was served; and

• “prescribed securities” means securities (including funds in court) of a kind prescribed by rules of court made under this section.

[F23 (2) The power to make rules of court under section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Civil Procedure Act 1997 shall include power by any such rules to make provision—

(a) for the High Court to make a stop order on the application of any person claiming to be entitled to an interest in prescribed securities; and

(b) for the service of a stop notice by any person claiming to be entitled to an interest in prescribed securities.]

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) Rules of court made by virtue of subsection (2) F24 . . . above shall prescribe the person or body on whom a copy of any stop order or a stop notice is to be served.

(5) The steps mentioned in subsection (1) above are—

(a) the registration of any transfer of the securities;

(b) in the case of funds in court, the transfer, sale, delivery out, payment or other dealing with the funds, or of the income thereon;

(c) the making of any payment by way of dividend, interest or otherwise in respect of the securities; and

(d) in the case of units of a unit trust, any acquisition of or other dealing with the units by any person or body exercising functions under the trust.

(6) Any rules of court made by virtue of this section may include such incidental, supplemental and consequential provisions as the authority making them consider necessary or expedient, and may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case.

Textual Amendments

F23 S. 5(2) substituted (25.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/439, art. 5(a)

F24 Words in s. 5(4) omitted (25.3.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/439, art. 5(c)

Supplemental E+W

6 Interpretation. E+W

(1) In this Act—

• “building society” has the same meaning as in the M3 Building Societies Act [F25 1986];

• “charging order” means an order made under section 1(1) of this Act;

• “debtor” and “creditor” have the meanings given by section 1(1) of this Act;

• “dividend” includes any distribution in respect of any unit of a unit trust;

• “government stock” means any stock issued by Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom or any funds of, or annuity granted by, that government;

• “stock” includes shares, debentures and any securities of the body concerned, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of that body;

• “unit trust” means any trust established for the purpose, or having the effect, of providing, for persons having funds available for investment, facilities for the participation by them, as beneficiaries under the trust, in any profits or income arising from the acquisition, holding, management or disposal of any property whatsoever.

(2) For the purposes of [F26 sections 1 and 3] of this Act references to a judgment or order of the High Court [F27 or the family court] or [F28 the county court] shall be taken to include references to a judgment, order, decree or award (however called) of any court or arbitrator (including any foreign court or arbitrator) which is or has become enforceable (whether wholly or to a limited extent) as if it were a judgment or order of the High Court [F27 or the family court] or [F28 the county court].

(3) References in section 2 of this Act to any securities include references to any such securities standing in the name of the Accountant General.

Textual Amendments

F25 Words substituted by Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53, SIF 16), ss. 54(3)(a)(5), 120, Sch. 18 Pt. I para. 14

F26 Words in s. 6(2) substituted (1.10.2012) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 93(4)(6), 148; S.I. 2012/1312, art. 3

F27 Words in s. 6(2) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 38(2); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F28 Words in s. 6(2) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

Marginal Citations

M3 1986 c. 53(16).

7 Consequential amendment, repeals and transitional provisions. E+W

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F30

(3) Any order made or notice given under any enactment repealed by this Act or under any rules of court revoked by rules of court made under this Act (the “new rules”) shall, if still in force when the provisions of this Act or, as the case may be, the new rules come into force, continue to have effect as if made under this Act, or, as the case may be, under the new rules.

(4) F31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F29 S. 7(1) repealed by County Courts Act 1984 (c. 28, SIF 34), s. 148(3), Sch. 4

F30 S. 7(2) repealed by virtue of Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), s. 153(2), Sch. 7 and by County Courts Act 1984 (c. 28, SIF 34), s. 148(3), Sch. 4

F31 S. 7(4) repealed (13.10.2003) by Land Registration Act 2002 (c. 9), ss. 135, 136(2), Sch. 13 (with s. 129, Sch. 12 para. 1); S.I. 2003/1725, art. 2(1)

8 Short title, commencement and extent. E+W

(1) This Act may be cited as the Charging Orders Act 1979.

(2) This Act comes into force on such day as the Lord Chancellor may appoint by order made by statutory instrument.

(3) This Act does not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 Power of appointment conferred by s. 8(2) fully exercised: 3. 6. 1980 appointed by S.I. 1980/627