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Is the Defendant Worth Suing?
Key considerations before taking legal action
Civil claims · Factsheet 4 of 17
Check Financial Status
- Ensure defendant is not facing insolvency
- Verify they have enough assets to pay
- Check if they are insured for the claim
- Consider location of assets (England/Wales preferred, overseas complicates enforcement)
Free Searches
- Land Registry for property ownership
- Bankruptcy and insolvency register
- London Gazette for insolvency notices
- Companies House for company info
- Charity Commission for charity accounts
- Internet search for general information
Paid Services
- Enquiry agents for financial status reports
- DVLA for vehicle ownership information
- HPI Check for vehicle finance status
- Trust Online for court orders and fines
Next Steps
- If insured/has assets: Consider proceeding
- Try alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
- Seek legal advice for complex situations
- Consider not pursuing if recovery unlikely
Reviewed
August 2026
Source
Download this factsheet as a PDF
4-Find-out-if-the-defendant-is-worth-suing.pdf · 1 page
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