Lexlaw Statutory Demand set aside Solicitors and Advocates London UK debt recovery Royal Courts of Justice

Set aside a Statutory Demand

A statutory demand can either be served upon an individual or a company and is usually the first step by a creditor who intends to present bankruptcy or winding-up petitions.

We are expert Statutory Demand solicitors and have years of experience at both issuing and defending statutory demands. We are a specialist City of London law firm made up of Solicitors & Barristers and based in the Middle Temple Inns of Court adjacent to the Royal Courts of Justice.

Our team have unparalleled experience at serving statutory demands, negotiating with debtors/creditors, setting aside statutory demands and both issuing and defending winding up petitions vigorously at the Royal Courts of Justice (Rolls Building), or the relevant High Court District Registry or County Court with jurisdiction under the Insolvency Rules.

Check Your Litigation Case ✔

We analyse your case prospects. We deliver strategic legal advice at your first fixed fee meeting. We get optimal legal results. Want our opinion on your case? Click below or call our lawyers in London on ☎ 02071830529

What is a Statutory Demand?

A statutory demand is a document outlining a creditor’s claim against a debtor.  The statutory demand is intended to be relied upon in further legal proceedings against you (to wind up a company or partnership or to bankrupt an individual) and which ought to:

  • Provide details of the financial claim, with interest calculated to the date of the demand;
  • Be served on you as debtor personally or by post; and
  • Tell you what to do to comply with the demand, have it set aside and the consequences of doing neither.

The format must follow the guidelines set out in the Insolvency Rules 1986, but it is not a court document.  Although the demand is dated at the time of issue, it does not expire.  The time limits to deal with a demand only apply from the date of service.

How can I set aside a Statutory Demand?

If you have been served with a statutory demand, as an individual or a company, you have the right to apply to the court to set it aside, pursuant to  rule 10.4 of the Insolvency Rules 2016.

You must act quickly, usually within 18 days, to avoid the creditor applying to bankrupt you or wind up your company.

When must I apply to set aside a statutory demand?

It is important to ascertain when the statutory demand was served upon you or your business (and essentially whether it was validly served). An application to set aside a statutory demand must be made within 18 days from the date the statutory demand was served.

What if the time limit for a statutory demand has passed?

Whilst it would always be advisable to adhere to the deadline and apply to have the statutory demand set aside within the 18 day window as far as practicable. The Court may consider an application to set aside a statutory demand outside the time limit (note: this discretion only applies if the creditor has not requested for a bankruptcy petition to be issued yet).

You should seek legal advice as soon as a statutory demand is served upon you otherwise you may not be able to set aside the statutory demand in time.

How can a Statutory Demand be used against me?

If you have an unpaid statutory demand it can be used as evidence to a Court that you are unable to pay your debts for the purposes of bankruptcy proceedings. This ground is usually relied upon by creditors when they present a bankruptcy petition or winding up petition.

What if I am liable for the debt in the statutory demand?

If you agree that the debt is due, debtors in that situation may instruct experienced insolvency solicitors. They can negotiate a settlement plan with the creditor (or their solicitor if they have legal representation).

It is important to try and negotiate a settlement plan within the 18 day statutory demand period, some options to consider are (note: these options do not constitute legal advice):

  • installment plan;
  • consider refinancing or a bridging loan;
  • offer a voluntary charge against your property to secure the debt;
  • obtain a personal guarantee from a relative or friend;
  • negotiate a reduction in the debt to less than £5,000 (therefore the creditor will then not be able to issue a bankruptcy petition); or
  • apply for an individual voluntary arrangement (to agree an arrangement to pay your debt in installments over a defined time period).

What is the application process to have a statutory demand set aside?

1. Why could a statutory demand be set aside?

The Court can set aside a statutory demand if any of the following reasons apply (pursuant to rule 10.5(5), Insolvency Rules 2016):

  • the debtor appears to have a counterclaim, set-off or cross demand which equals or exceeds the amount of the debt specified in the statutory demand;
  • the debt is disputed on grounds which appear to the court to be substantial;
  • it appears that the creditor holds some security in relation to the debt claimed by the demand, and either rule 10.1(9) is not complied with in relation to it, or the court is satisfied that the value of the security equals or exceeds the full amount of the debt; or
  • the court is satisfied, on other grounds, that the demand ought to be set aside.

The Court will also consider other reasons to set aside a statutory demand including: the statutory demand has not been issued in the correct manner, you owe less than £5,000 (as an individual) or in the alternative £750 (as a company), or you have a legal defence to court action being taken against you.

2. What is the right court for a statutory demand?

The statutory demand should contain the information about where and how an application can be made to set aside the statutory demand. For example, if the statutory demand is from HMRC and the demand states that the petition will be presented in the High Court, then an application to set aside the statutory demand should be made at the High Court.

3. How do I complete the Insolvency Act Application form?

You can download a word version template Form IAA here. Guidance notes can be found here.

It is important to seek legal advice when completing Form IAA because all relevant information must be included such as the grounds for dismissing the statutory demand, the date you became aware of the statutory demand and copies of the demand and any evidence which you have sought to rely on.

4. Draft a witness statement to support of the application

Depending on the facts of your case, a witness statement can be submitted to the Court in support of the application.

Legal advice should be sought when drafting the witness statement, guidance notes on the Civil Procedure Rules states that a witness statement must:

  1. start with the name of the case and the claim number;
  2. state the full name and address of the witness;
  3. set out the witness’s evidence clearly in numbered paragraphs on numbered pages;
  4. end with this paragraph:  ‘I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.’ and
  5. be signed by the witness and dated.

5. Will I have to attend a hearing?

If the Court is satisfied that there is a good reason for the application then you (or your solicitor) will receive a notice of hearing from the Court which contains the date, time and location of the hearing to set aside the statutory demand.

Our specialist team can arrange representation for you at the hearing. It is recommended that you attend Court as well in support of the application. We are based in the City of London but provide national coverage by other attending the hearing ourselves or by arranging counsel local to you to attend the hearing with instructions from us on how to proceed.

What steps do I take after an application to set aside a statutory demand is dismissed?

You may be liable for the creditor’s costs of and occasioned by the failed application to set aside the statutory demand.

The creditor can then straight away make a bankruptcy petition to make you bankrupt. Our team provides expert guidance on the bankruptcy process. Our FAQs provide a comprehensive guide on the bankruptcy rules.

Case Study: Maksim Moskalev v Dmitry Yanishevskiy (Costs) [2021]

In the case of Moskalev v Yanishevskiy, our firm represented Mr. Moskalev. He had been served with an English statutory demand that was allegedly based on a fraudulently obtained default judgment from the High Court of Hong Kong. We disputed the statutory demand and filed an application to have it set aside.

High Court ICC Judge Barber ruled in favour of Mr. Moskalev and ordered Mr. Yanishevskiy to pay his costs. The learned judge determined that we had presented substantial grounds to dispute the debt claimed in the statutory demand and that Mr. Yanishevskiy’s withdrawal of the demand meant that our client was the successful party. As a result, it was appropriate to award costs to Mr. Moskalev. …read more

Instruct Specialist Statutory Demand Solicitors

As you can see from the above case study we know what we are doing when it comes to dealing with Statutory Demands. We’re a specialist City of London law firm made up of leading Solicitors & Barristers and based in the Middle Temple Inns of Court adjacent to the Royal Courts of Justice.  We are experts in dealing with matters surrounding insolvency and our team are skilled at serving statutory demands, negotiating with debtors/creditors, setting aside statutory demands (or defending such applications to set aside) and both issuing and defending bankruptcy petitions vigorously at the Bankruptcy Court, and winding up petitions at the Royal Courts of Justice (Rolls Building), or the relevant High Court District Registry or County Court with jurisdiction under the Insolvency Rules.

Check Your Litigation Case ✔

We analyse your case prospects. We deliver strategic legal advice at your first fixed fee meeting. We get optimal legal results. Want our opinion on your case? Click below or call our lawyers in London on ☎ 02071830529

ACT PROMPTLY

Please note that if you have been warned about your file being passed to HMRC’s Solicitor’s Office or have been served a statutory demand or winding-up petition do not delay in taking legal advice. Your matter can be handled more effectively the sooner you contact us.