Statutory demand form and notes

Service on a company or LLP
22 Reviews

Document overview

This document allows you to serve a statutory demand prescribed under the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 against a company or limited liability partnership (LLP).Use it to enforce payment of a specific sum of money that you can prove is due to you.Follow with bankruptcy proceedings and winding up of the debtor business if necessary.Our guidance notes tell you how to complete the document and the process you should follow so that you don't have to involve solicitors or collection agencies.
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About this pack of forms

A statutory demand can be an incredibly powerful debt collecting device. The law assumes it merely paves the way for a bankruptcy or winding up petition, but the threat of a petition can spur repayment from the most staid debtor.

Furthermore, the procedure to issue one is very easy to follow. Using one of these forms, the guidance and the letter in this pack you should be able to issue a demand yourself without needing to involve solicitors or pay court fees.

These forms are suitable where the debtor is a company or an LLP. If the debtor is an individual, use these alternative forms.

The format of the forms

We provide you with two versions of form SD1 7.3 under section 123(1)(a) or 222(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986.

Rule 7.3 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 provides list of matters that the demand must contain.

Some of the text in the forms is laid down in the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, and therefore must be left precisely as it is. We have made clear what that is.

The format and layout are not laid down, so we are able to provide our own user friendly version.

When to serve a debtor

Demands are not served as often as they could be. A common misconception is that a solicitor is needed to prepare the forms, or that it is a difficult process or that serving one is a certain path to litigation. In fact, in the right circumstances it is a fast and efficient way of collecting a debt.

The key is that your debtor has to believe that you will take the process further to wind up his company if he fails to pay. We advise that you should take that step if you need to do so, but you will find that in most cases you will not have to go further than a statutory demand. Now consider these points:

  • By law, the debt must be at least £750. There is no cost or filing or registration necessary.

  • But if your debtor is to believe you will wind up his company, you have to make him see that it will be worth your while. That means covering the fee on the petition to wind up, of £280, and maybe more for the risk of litigation. So we suggest that the minimum amount that you should pursue is £1,000.

  • You will not be paid if your debtor truly does not have the money. However, it is amazing how money is found when a creditor really presses hard.

  • You have to be certain that what is owed is a simple money debt. You cannot issue a demand for a case that could need a judge to decide.

  • It goes without saying that you should not expect to have an on-going relationship with the debtor.

  • You should reckon that your debtor is likely to repay you rather than risk his reputation. This is particularly true against large companies, companies where reputation is important to business, and to governmental organisations. (You could not actually wind up the Ministry of Defence, but they would certainly pay you fast if you issued a statutory demand!)

You may wish to read more about using this type of debt recovery device.

Demand under section 123(1)(a) OR section 222(1)(a) of Insolvancy Act 1986

Rule 7.3 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 requires that the statutory demand must have statement that the demand is made under section 123(1)(a) or section 222(1)(a).

The difference is as follows:

  • Section 123(1)(a) is applicable where the debtor is a company registered under the Companies Act 2006

  • Section 222(1)(a) is applicable where the debtor is an unregistered company, organization or association not covered under Companies Act 2006. An example could be LLP.

Remember to select the relevant section at the title of the form and in the contents and remove the other one.

Pack features and contents

We provide two versions of the forms:

  • The “traditional” Government form in Microsoft Word format to complete on your computer and then print

  • The Net Lawman version, which we believe is easier to complete on your computer

There is full example text completed in the Net Lawman form to guide you with the wording you might use. Also included in the pack are:

  • Guidance notes to help your further on how to complete the forms and serve notice

  • Example letter you might send to your debtor with the form

Sample statutory demand form and notesSample page from the statutory demand form
Click to View Sample

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Recent reviews

Great Service
11 May 2021
Great, really easy to follow and appreciated the sample letters also that came with the download too.

Only improvement for me would be to explain in the notes which court details to add to the SD - I had to look elsewhere to find the answer, as I did not know if it was a court local to me or the company I was sending the SD too - but apart from that, everything was worthwhile. (FYI It needs to be the one closest to the company!)

I feel completely reassured that I have filled in and followed the process, all because of these downloaded guide and templates. Well worth it!
Lisa Mitchell
Great Service
14 July 2020
The forms and instructions provided were clear, precise and exactly what I was looking for.

it was the first time I had to issue a stat demand and the forms purchased from Net Lawman were a great help.

Also did the trick in relation to the money owed so very happy overall.
James Farmer
Great Service
22 May 2020
Simple easy download. The document is easy to manipulate and certainly worth the money to have the confidence you are covering all legal and statutory bases. Would definitely recommend and use again as needed. Thanks!
John Greenberg
Review of the New Zealand version
Read all 22 reviews
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