Archive Website of the UK government

About the Individual Insolvency Register

The Insolvency Service maintains a free online register of the following types of insolvency cases in England and Wales:

• bankruptcies, including bankruptcy restrictions orders or undertakings
  
• debt relief orders, including debt relief restrictions orders or undertakings
  
• individual voluntary arrangements
• fast-track voluntary arrangements

To find out more about these insolvency procedures - see the link, ‘Debt repayment options - a guide’.

Records include details of an individual's:

• name - including any other names by which they were known
  
• address - or last known address
  
• occupation
  
• date of birth
  
• details and dates associated with their insolvency procedure
• the date of their last bankruptcy or debt relief order - if no more than six years old

How to use this service

You can search for insolvency cases throughout England and Wales that are current or recently expired (usually within the last three months).

Search by an individual’s name or known trading name. You can refine your search by selecting the court that dealt with the insolvency case and/or the Official Receiver’s office.

• Search the Individual Insolvency Register Opens new window

Do not use this service if ...

The register does not include details of:

• disqualified directors
  
• company insolvencies
  
• insolvencies in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You can search for information on disqualified directors and company insolvencies on the Companies House website. There may be a charge for this service.

You can search for details of insolvency cases in Scotland or Northern Ireland by contacting the Accountant in Bankruptcy (Scotland) or The Insolvency Service Northern Ireland. There may be a charge for these services.

• Companies House - company record search Opens new window

• Accountant in Bankruptcy Opens new window

• The Insolvency Service Northern Ireland Opens new window

How long are records kept on the register?

Details are removed from the register:

• three months after a bankruptcy order ends
  
• three months after a debt relief order ends
  
• three months after an individual voluntary arrangement ends
  
• when a bankruptcy restrictions order or undertaking ends
  
• when a debt relief restrictions order or undertaking ends
  
• three months after The Insolvency Service has been told about an annulled (cancelled) bankruptcy order – or after 28 days for annulments where the bankruptcy order should not have been made

Other bodies such as credit reference agencies may keep information about insolvency cases on their own records for a longer period.

• Credit reference agencies - factsheet from National Debtline Opens new window

• Credit reference agencies Opens new window

Reporting errors on the register

Contact the Insolvency Enquiry Line if you believe any information on the register is incorrect. Telephone 0845 602 9848, Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.

• The Insolvency Service - general enquiry form

More useful links

• Debt repayment options - a guide