Debt help in Northern Ireland
This guide covers Northern Ireland
The short answer
The rules are different in Northern Ireland. This site covers England and Wales, so most of its guides do not apply to you. The official sources below are the place to start.
Northern Ireland has Debt Relief Orders, IVAs and bankruptcy, but the details differ. Free help is available from charities such as Advice NI and StepChange.
Last checked against nidirect: Debt repayment options on 30 October 2026.
Checked Sources
Editorial responsibility: IVAs & Bankruptcy — how we check and correct information.
Why this site does not cover Northern Ireland
The limits, fees and steps on this site are for England and Wales. Do not use our numbers for a Northern Ireland case. Check them on the official Northern Ireland pages.
Options named on nidirect
nidirect lists these ways of dealing with debt in Northern Ireland.
- Informal agreements with creditors, and debt management plans. StepChange offers free plans, and most companies charge a fee.
- An IVA, which needs an authorised debt specialist and has costs.
- An Administration Order, for debts of £5,000 or less, through your local county court.
- A Debt Relief Order, which gives relief from listed debts for 12 months. Approved intermediaries help you apply to the Insolvency Service. nidirect says it is not suitable for homeowners because of limits on assets.
- Bankruptcy, where a trustee takes control of your assets. The Official Receiver is involved, and bankruptcy normally lasts one year.
Who deals with it
The Department for the Economy publishes a search for Debt Relief Orders and Bankruptcy Relief Orders under its Insolvency Service topic. Bankruptcy petitions are accepted only by the High Court in Belfast.
Free advice
nidirect names Advice NI, which gives free, confidential and impartial help managing money, and StepChange Debt Charity, which gives free and impartial help with debt. It also lists MoneyHelper as a useful link.
This page is a signpost, not advice. Check each point with the official source.
What to do next
Free, independent debt advice
These services are free. They will not judge you, and they can look at your whole situation.
Free debt advice charity. They can talk through all your options with you.
Call free: 0800 138 1111 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
Covers: UK
Free, confidential debt advice by phone and online.
Call free: 0808 808 4000 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
Covers: England, Wales and Scotland
Free advice on debt, housing, benefits and more. By phone, online or in person.
Call free: 0800 144 8848 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
Covers: England (this is the Adviceline number for England)
Free money guidance backed by government. It has a tool to find free debt advice near you.
Covers: UK
Related guides
- Debt options: IVA, bankruptcy, DROThe main ways to deal with debt you cannot pay, in plain English: IVA, bankruptcy, DRO, debt management plan and Breathing Space. Costs and risks.
- Find free debt and housing helpFree, independent debt advice and urgent housing help in England and Wales: StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice, Shelter and more.
- Debt help in ScotlandScotland has its own debt rules, such as trust deeds and sequestration. This site covers England and Wales, so here are official places to look.
Sources
- nidirect: Debt repayment options (checked )
- nidirect: Bankruptcy (checked )
- Department for the Economy: DRO and BRO Register Search (checked )