Lexlaw Solicitors and barristers statutory demand insolvency act

Making and Serving a Statutory Demand

Creditors often consider serving a statutory demand upon a debtor when the creditor is frustrated with delayed payment from the debtor. Statutory demands can be a relatively speedy, impactful and cost effective means to extract sums owed from a defaulting party. In circumstances where a debt is over the £750 threshold, a statutory demand is often used as the first step to a winding up petition (against a company) or a bankruptcy petition (against an individual).

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We are expert Statutory Demand solicitors and have years of experience at both issuing and defending statutory demands. 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.

What is a statutory demand?

A statutory demand is a demand for payment of a debt within 21 days served upon an individual in accordance with s. 268(1)(a) Insolvency Act 1986. It is a document served by a creditor upon a debtor that is intended to prove that the debtor owes the specified sum of money which is over £750.

The first legal step to winding up a company or making an individual bankrupt is a statutory demand if the debt is for more than £750 or £5,000 respectively. A statutory demand is capable of being served as soon as the debt is due. A process server is recommended for personal service. If a creditor is owed money and wants the debt paid quickly, taking legal advice on serving a statutory demand is recommended.

How long does a statutory demand last?

In addition, if a debtor receives a statutory demand, it is imperative specialist legal advice is sought as soon as possible because you only have 18 days from the time of service to seek the Court’s permission to set aside the statutory demand. Should you apply outside the mandated time period, the application to set aside the statutory demand will only be listed at the Court’s discretion.

What are the rules of service of a statutory demand?

A creditor must still follow the correct rules of service, as incorrect service could be fatal to the debt claim even though serving a statutory demand does not involve the court with no court fees payable.

The statutory demand is intended to be relied upon in further legal proceedings against a debtor and which ought to:

  • give financial details of the claim, along with interest calculated to the date of the demand;
  • be served on you the debtor personally (via process server) or by post; and
  • tell the debtor what to do to comply with the statutory demand, have it set aside and the consequences of doing neither.

Why should a creditor serve a statutory demand?

The advantages of serving a statutory demand include:

  • a statutory demand can be a more cost-effective and speedier method to ensure the debtor pays the debt rather than instigating court proceedings (initially anyway);
  • the statutory demand process does not involve the Court, there are no added court fees or delays seeking listings of applications (unless the debtor challenges the statutory demand e.g. if the debt is disputed);
  • a statutory demand starts the time running for a debtor to honour its debts, as once served, the debtor has 21 days within which to pay the debt;
  • the demand carries a threat of bankruptcy (or winding-up if served upon a company), and could focus the mind of a debtor to ensure re-payment of the sums is expedited or encourage engagement in settlement negotiations.

What are the disadvantages for a creditor serving a statutory demand?

A statutory demand can only be served if the debt is for £5,000 or more (for an individual).

A creditor must consider ongoing trade relationships and consider whether serving a statutory demand would affect its business relationship with the debtor.

A creditor cannot serve a statutory demand for an unliquidated debt i.e. a debt for as yet an unknown or unquantifiable sum.

If the debt is disputed on genuine grounds, there are significant risks to a creditor of serving a statutory demand as normal court proceedings would instead be the proper forum to hear the dispute.

Although (depending on the facts of the case) serving a statutory demand is not overly expensive (compared to litigation), if the debtor cannot pay, then the next step is to present a bankruptcy petition against them, which will increase costs. There are specific rules for serving a statutory demand and presenting a bankruptcy petition, therefore it is important to seek legal advice at the outset, because if a mistake is made in service, then this will delay or even prevent the re-payment of the debt as well as mean you could be liable for the debtor’s legal costs in defending the claim.

Serving a Statutory Demand for a Court Judgment Debt (CCJ)

Your Powerful Path to Debt Recovery

When a court judgment is obtained in your favour, you can deploy the mighty tool of a statutory demand based on that very judgment for efficient debt recovery. This approach not only carries substantial weight but also proves cost-effective, making it an optimal choice. By leveraging the authoritative stance of a formal court judgment, the statutory demand debt becomes impervious to disputes over the debt, removing any doubts about its legal standing. This shields you from the risks of an application to set aside the statutory demand or an injunction, unless there’s a specific challenge to the judgment itself.

Opting for a statutory demand rooted in a court judgment allows you to swiftly and seamlessly enforce the ruling. Unlike relying solely on high court enforcement officers, this method provides you with prompt insights into the debtor’s financial capacity to fulfill their obligations. Time is of the essence, and this approach expedites the entire debt recovery process.

Even the most evasive debtors will find it difficult to evade their responsibilities when faced with a well-crafted statutory demand based on a judgment debt. Non-compliance with such a demand carries severe repercussions, including the initiation of winding-up proceedings against corporate entities or the instigation of bankruptcy proceedings against individuals. As a result, a statutory demand backed by a court judgment stands out as an exceptionally effective and cost-efficient strategy for reclaiming outstanding court judgment debts.

We specialise in providing a robust debt recovery solution by harnessing the power of statutory demands. Our track record speaks for itself, as we have helped hundreds of clients successfully regain their debts for decades. It’s your turn to benefit from our expertise and experience. Allow us to deftly navigate the intricate realm of debt enforcement, maximising your chances of a triumphant recovery. With us handling the process, you can focus your attention on what truly matters to you. Take a decisive step towards reclaiming your court judgment debts today. Get in touch with us to explore how our potent statutory demand solution can expedite your debt recovery journey.

Please note that a tailored approach can be adopted and a stat demand for a CCJ against a company is not strictly always necessary and a non-stat demand can be served.

A step-by-step guide to drafting a statutory demand

The format of a statutory demand must follow the guidelines set out in the Insolvency Rules 2006.  

Following Rule 10.1 Insolvency Rules 2016, the contents of a statutory demand are as follows:

  • headed either “Statutory demand under section 268(1) (debt payable immediately) of the Insolvency Act 1986” or “Statutory demand under section 268(2) (debt not immediately payable)”;
  • provide identity details for the debtor;
  • has the name and address of the creditor;
  • contains a statement of the amount of the debt (which must be over £750), and the consideration for it (or, if there is no consideration, the way in which it arises);
  • if the demand is made under section 268(1) and founded on a judgment or order of a court, the date of the judgment or order and the court in which it was obtained;
  • if the demand is made under section 268(2), a statement of the grounds on which it is alleged that the debtor appears to have no reasonable prospect of paying the debt;
  • if the creditor is entitled to the debt by way of assignment, details of the original creditor and any intermediary assignees;
  • has a statement that if the debtor does not comply with the demand bankruptcy proceedings may be commenced;
  • provides the date by which the debtor must comply with the demand, if bankruptcy proceedings are to be avoided;
  • a statement of the methods of compliance which are open to the debtor;
  • a statement that the debtor has the right to apply to the court to have the demand set aside;
  • a statement that rule 10.4(4) of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 states to which court such an application must be made; and name the court or hearing centre of the County Court to which, according to the present information, the debtor must make the application (i.e. the High Court, the County Court at Central London or a named hearing centre of the County Court as the case may be);
  • a statement that any application to set aside the demand must be made within 18 days of service on the debtor; and
  • a statement that if the debtor does not apply to set aside the demand within 18 days or otherwise deal with this demand within 21 days after its service the debtor could be made bankrupt and the debtor’s property and goods taken away.

Template statutory demand forms in Word format

A creditor issues a statutory demand by completing one of the four template statutory demand forms (Forms SD 1; SD 2; SD 3 or SD 4).

The following are the three current blank statutory demand forms which can be downloaded Microsoft Word format. If it is your intention to use one of these forms you should take expert legal advice to ensure the correct form is used and that the form is set out correctly. Any mistakes may result in serious costs consequences which may exceed the amount of debt sought. There are also other considerations such as the solvency of the company or individual, and whether the debt is disputed in any way.

Note: amendments made need to be made to HMCTS’ standard template Form SD 2, therefore it is crucial that legal advice is sought before serving a statutory demand.

Demand Immediate Payment of a Debt from a Limited Company Statutory Demand under section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986 Blank Statutory Demand Form (Form SD 1)


Debt for Liquidated Sum Payable Immediately
Statutory Demand under section 268(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986
Blank Statutory Demand Form (Form SD 2)

Debt for liquidated sum payable immediately following a judgment or order of the court
Statutory demand under section 268(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986
Blank Statutory Demand Form (Form SD 4)

Debt payable at future date
Statutory demand under section 268(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986
Blank Statutory Demand (Form SD 3)

Instruct expert insolvency solicitors to recover your debt

We are lawyers that specialise in recovering unpaid debts from individuals or companies so we know the best way to get your unpaid debts paid up quickly. This may involve Insolvency or Litigation proceedings.

To date, we have a 100% success rate and all of the petitions we have issued have been resolved in our client’s favour. This has also meant that the petitioned company or individual has paid our fees. Luckily for our clients this means instructing us to pursue their bad debts has ultimately recovered the sums owed plus interest with a refund of their legal costs.

As a result of our success we are now able to offer clients a proactive debt recovery package for a small fixed fee (which is likely to be refunded!).

Specialist statutory demand lawyers

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.  We are experts in dealing with matters surrounding insolvency in particular issues.  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.

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