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What happens after a Debt Relief Order is made

The order starts a 12-month pause on the debts it covers. Here is what happens during that year and at the end of it.

Applies to: England & Wales

Written by The My Debt Cleared editorial teamLast reviewed 18 October 2026Next review 18 April 2027Jurisdiction England & WalesEditorial policy
Once a Debt Relief Order is made, a 12-month moratorium begins: creditors named in it cannot ask you for payment or take action over those debts without court permission. Your details go on the Individual Insolvency Register. You must tell the official receiver about changes in your income or assets. If nothing changes, the included debts are discharged at the end of the 12 months.

What to do now

  1. Keep your notice of the order safe — it has the official receiver’s contact details.
  2. Keep paying ongoing rent and bills, and any debts not in the order.
  3. Keep a record of creditor contact with the contact log.

The 12-month moratorium

From the date the order is made, creditors of the debts listed cannot pursue you for payment or take enforcement action over those debts unless a court allows it. Interest and charges should not be added. If a creditor contacts you, tell them about the DRO and give the date of the order.

Creditors are told

The official receiver notifies the creditors listed. Creditors can object within a limited period after they are told, on set grounds — for example that information was wrong or missing, a debt was not a qualifying debt, or you gave away assets or paid one creditor in preference in the two years before applying. The official receiver looks into an objection and can ask for your comments.

The public register

Your name, address and details of the order appear on the Individual Insolvency Register, which anyone can search, until three months after the DRO ends. If publishing your address would put you at risk of violence, you can apply to a court to keep it off. The DRO stays on your credit file for six years.

Your duties during the year

  • Tell the official receiver about increases in income and about any money or property you receive, such as an inheritance.
  • Follow the restrictions, including on borrowing more than £500 and acting as a company director.
  • Report anything you realise was wrong or missing from the application.

Not reporting a change is an offence and can lead to revocation or a Debt Relief Restrictions Order. Change of circumstances.

What you still pay

Rent, council tax, energy and other ongoing bills, plus any debts that cannot be included, such as student loans and court fines. Debts not included. If you rent, keep up with current rent: rent arrears can be in the order, but your landlord may still have options over the tenancy, so get advice if you are behind.

At the end of 12 months

If the order has not been revoked, you are discharged from the qualifying debts listed in it and the restrictions end. Debts that came from fraud are not discharged. The order can be revoked during the year if your circumstances improve, and in some cases the period can be extended.

This page explains how the solution works. It is not a recommendation, and it cannot tell you whether it suits you — a free, regulated debt adviser can look at your full situation.

You can get free, impartial debt advice

You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation.

Common questions

Can creditors still contact me after a DRO?

Creditors of debts in the order cannot ask you for payment or take action over them during the 12 months without court permission. Tell any creditor who contacts you about the DRO.

Is a DRO public?

Yes. It appears on the Individual Insolvency Register until three months after it ends, and on your credit file for six years.

What happens when the DRO ends?

If it has not been revoked, the qualifying debts listed in it are discharged and the restrictions end. Debts from fraud remain payable.

Debt Relief OrdersDRO restrictionsChange of circumstancesCreditor contact log
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