Before attending the court hearing:
You will need to prepare a financial statement before attending court. This allows the debtor to see what you can afford to pay back. The financial statement much show in details:
- how much money you have coming in,
- whether you have any assets, such as a house or savings,
- what you need to spend on everyday living,
- how much you need to support other people in your family,
- how much you have left to pay your debts.
You will also need to collect evidence of your financial situation. This will include evidence of:
- bank statements,
- credit agreements,
- rent books,
- proof of any other debts,
- proof of other court orders.
At the court hearing:
Firstly, it should be noted that the creditor may not be at the hearing. There will be a standard list of questions that you may be asked, these can be downloaded from the link provided to downloaded court form EX140, from the GOV.UK website. You must answer the questions on oath or affirmation, thus swearing that the information that you are providing to be true. After the questioning, you will be asked to sign a written record of the information that you have provided. Make sure you check closely that there are no mistakes before signing.
Unable to attend court:
If you cannot attend the court hearing, you should contact your creditor to ask them to agree on a new date. Consequently, if it cannot be agreed upon you may apply to the court for a change of date. Please see applying to the court for a change of date, using a court form N244, accessible via GOV. The UK and the link provided.
If you have any questions concerning making an application for a change of date contact Citizens Advice or Lestons Ltd.
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