Better data. Better understanding. Better outcomes.

The Introduction of Claimant Name to the Public Register 2026.

Today, The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/697) come into force.

Although the legislative change is relatively concise, its impact should be significant. The Regulations amend The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/3595), the legislation that governs the information recorded on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and supplied by His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to Registry Trust, which maintains the Register on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Until today, the 2005 Regulations required the Register to contain information identifying the defendant, together with details of the judgment itself, including the court, case number, judgment date, amount, and subsequent events such as satisfaction, cancellation or set aside. The Regulations did not provide for the claimant's identity to be recorded.

SI 2026/697 changes that position.

The amendment requires claimant name to be included in the information provided by HMCTS for qualifying County Court and High Court money judgments entered after the Regulations come into force. As a result, claimant names will now form part of new entries on the Register. Historic entries will remain unchanged; claimant information will not be added retrospectively.

This change follows a public consultation launched by the Ministry of Justice in November 2023 on whether claimant names should be included on the Register. The consultation attracted responses from across the civil justice system, including debt advice organisations, consumer bodies, local authorities, credit reference agencies, financial services, trade associations, academics, regulators, charities and Registry Trust. Following careful consideration of those responses, the Government concluded that the benefits of including claimant information outweighed the risks and confirmed that it would legislate.

Registry Trust warmly welcomes today's change.

As the independent custodian of the Register, we have worked closely with the Ministry of Justice over a number of years to explore how claimant information could enhance the Register while maintaining its integrity, independence and public purpose. We were pleased to contribute our own response to the consultation and to support the development of a carefully considered approach that recognises both the opportunities this new information presents and the importance of responsible implementation.

It is important to note that, whilst the legislation comes into force from today, the claimant name will not be published and publicly available on the Register until 20th October 2026 at the end of the transitionary period. It is also important to note that this change will only apply to new judgments registered from 20th July 2026 onwards and will not be applied to historic judgments on the Register.

Alongside the work to make claimant name available on the public Register (via TrustOnline [www.trustonline.org.uk]), Registry Trust will be working with its bulk and other data customers to agree how and when this data will be shared under licence in the future.

Better data, better understanding

The Register has always existed to provide trusted information about court judgments. It underpins lending decisions, supports confidence in commercial transactions and provides an authoritative public record of judgments, orders and fines.

The inclusion of claimant information makes that public record richer and more informative.

Over time, it will enable researchers, policymakers, regulators, journalists and others to build a more complete understanding of how the civil justice system is used. It will help answer questions that have not previously been possible to explore fully, from patterns of litigation across different sectors to how particular types of debt progress through the courts. Better evidence supports better public debate, better policymaking and, ultimately, better outcomes.

What has not changed

It is equally important to understand what this legislation does not change.

The purpose of the Register remains exactly the same. It continues to be the official public record of qualifying judgments, orders and fines in England and Wales.

The legal consequences of obtaining a judgment have not changed. The rules governing registration, cancellation, satisfaction and set aside remain unchanged. Trust Online will continue to provide public access to Register information, and Registry Trust will continue to make Register data available to commercial customers under existing arrangements.

Nor does this legislation seek to judge or rank claimants.

One of the strongest messages emerging from the Government's consultation was that claimant data must be interpreted carefully and in context. Organisations appear on the Register for many different reasons. Utilities, financial institutions, housing providers, local authorities, government bodies and commercial organisations all operate under different statutory duties, regulatory frameworks and customer bases. Raw numbers, without explanation, can easily mislead.

That is why Registry Trust believes that publishing better data must go hand in hand with promoting better understanding.

Looking ahead

The Register has evolved continually over the last forty years, adapting to changes in technology, the justice system and the needs of its users. The inclusion of claimant information is another important step in that evolution.

As implementation progresses, we look forward to continuing our close partnership with the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS, while engaging with commercial users, regulators, researchers, consumer organisations, debt advice charities and the media to support responsible use and interpretation of this important new information.

Our mission remains unchanged: to ensure that public data is used for the public good.

The Register is more than a database. It is part of the UK's public infrastructure. By making it more informative while preserving its integrity and trusted status, today's legislation strengthens its ability to support better decisions, better research and better policy for years to come.

Chris Dick
Chief Executive Officer
Registry Trust Ltd