I can inform the Deputy that where a judgment has been registered in the High Court the process for marking it satisfied in the register is that the debtor lodges in the Central Office a satisfaction piece which has been signed by the creditor in the presence of an attesting witness. The proper officer of the High Court Central Office will then update the register accordingly and sign a certificate of satisfaction.
If a judgment creditor does not cooperate it is open to the judgment debtor to apply to the court for an order directing another person to sign the satisfaction piece.
If the judgment was obtained in the District or the Circuit Court, the satisfaction piece is lodged in the office of that court, and the memorandum of satisfaction is signed in that court and then lodged in the High Court Central Office.
Sections 86 and 125 of the Personal Insolvency Acts 2012-2015 provide that a debtor who has successfully completed a Debt Settlement Arrangement or a Personal Insolvency Arrangement stands discharged from all unsecured debts specified in that arrangement, and stands discharged from any secured debts to the extent specified in that arrangement. The Acts also provide a simple procedure for confirming successful completion and for registering it on the Insolvency Service register.
I can further inform the Deputy that my Department is examining the possibility of providing for a streamlined process to register satisfaction of judgment debts via the Personal Insolvency Acts in the appropriate Court register, to facilitate both debtors and creditors.
