England and Wales · Civil enforcement
What is the permitted window for service on the judgment debtor?
CPR 72.5(1)(b) requires debtor service at least seven days after service on the third party and at least seven days before the hearing.
- Period
- Two limits, at least seven clear days after third-party service and seven clear days before hearing
- Trigger
- Actual third-party service date and actual fixed hearing date
- Rule
- CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i)–(ii), (2)
Official Justice UK CPR text and legislation.gov.uk statutory XML retained on October 9, 2026. The retained source metadata and acquisition receipts identify each edition. No claim of later amendments or actual local court opening is made.
Source guide · No automated date
Check the applicable procedure
This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day. This remains a source guide. Preserve both actual anchors, the complete bundle and any actual direction. A single backward seven-day output does not represent the whole rule.
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What is the permitted window for service on the judgment debtor?
CPR 72.5(1)(b) requires debtor service at least seven days after service on the third party and at least seven days before the hearing.
Responsible actor. The judgment creditor or person arranging service on the debtor.
Actual third-party service date and actual fixed hearing date.
This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day.
This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day.
CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i)–(ii), (2)How does this provision count time?
- Apply the clear-day definition to each limb separately. If the resulting earliest debtor-service date is later than its latest permissible date, the actual timetable needs review.
- Effective-service rules and any moved hearing can alter whether the window is usable. A generic next-open-day carry cannot repair an empty window or erase the first service condition.
Apply the clear-day definition to each limb separately. If the resulting earliest debtor-service date is later than its latest permissible date, the actual timetable needs review.
Effective-service rules and any moved hearing can alter whether the window is usable. A generic next-open-day carry cannot repair an empty window or erase the first service condition.
CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i)–(ii), (2)Which facts prevent one automatic date?
This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day. This remains a source guide. Preserve both actual anchors, the complete bundle and any actual direction. A single backward seven-day output does not represent the whole rule.
This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day. Apply the clear-day definition to each limb separately. If the resulting earliest debtor-service date is later than its latest permissible date, the actual timetable needs review. Two limits, at least seven clear days after third-party service and seven clear days before hearing. Establish the actual applicable procedure before completing the act.
Effective-service rules and any moved hearing can alter whether the window is usable. A generic next-open-day carry cannot repair an empty window or erase the first service condition. Apply the clear-day definition to each limb separately. If the resulting earliest debtor-service date is later than its latest permissible date, the actual timetable needs review. No automatic computed date or purchase.
This remains a source guide. Preserve both actual anchors, the complete bundle and any actual direction. A single backward seven-day output does not represent the whole rule. The third party must first receive the bundle on its own twenty-one-day timetable. The debtor’s earliest date protects the ordering of those different service events. Check the identified alternate procedure and actual direction or events.
Which conditions and exceptions apply?
- Identified actor and operative event
- This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day.
- Provision-specific counting and closure
- Apply the clear-day definition to each limb separately. If the resulting earliest debtor-service date is later than its latest permissible date, the actual timetable needs review. Effective-service rules and any moved hearing can alter whether the window is usable. A generic next-open-day carry cannot repair an empty window or erase the first service condition.
- Required completion and separate procedural route
- This remains a source guide. Preserve both actual anchors, the complete bundle and any actual direction. A single backward seven-day output does not represent the whole rule.
- This is a two-sided window. Neither the hearing date nor the third-party service date alone establishes a permissible debtor-service day.
- The third party must first receive the bundle on its own twenty-one-day timetable. The debtor’s earliest date protects the ordering of those different service events.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
What is the permitted window for service on the judgment debtor?
Is seven days before the hearing enough to establish valid debtor service?
No. The rule also requires at least seven days after service on the third party. Both limbs must be satisfied.
CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i)–(ii)Can the interim order date substitute for third-party service in the debtor window?
No. Paragraph (b)(i) expressly uses service of a copy on the third party. Order making and service are different events.
CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i); 72.4(4)Does the debtor receive only the interim order?
Rule 72.5(1) includes copies of the interim order, application notice and supporting documents. The whole prescribed bundle matters.
CPR 72.5(1)What if late third-party service leaves no compliant debtor-service day?
The source requires both conditions. An empty window cannot be cured by ignoring one limb; the actual hearing timetable or directions need review.
CPR 72.5(1)(a)–(b)Does a moved hearing preserve the old latest debtor-service date?
The hearing-side limb uses the date fixed for the hearing. Reassess the window against the actual listing and any direction affecting earlier service.
CPR 72.5(1)(b)(ii)Why does this page avoid a single seven-day deadline?
The source supplies an earliest and a latest boundary from different actual events. One date with one anchor would omit a required condition.
CPR 72.5(1)(b)Official sources and review
Provisions used (10)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i)–(ii), (2) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 2.8(2)–(5) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i)–(ii) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.4(4) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1)(a)–(b) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1)(b)(ii) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1)(b) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 72.5(1)(b)(i); 72.4(4) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |