Step-by-step guide to form SD1

  • Explains what to write in each box on the form
  • Clear and easy to understand
  • Get it right first time and avoid problems later

This step-by-step guide to form SD1 helps you through the process of filling in the official statutory demand form SD1. It is the form to use if you are owed £750 or more by a company.

Completing the SD1 statutory demand form is the first step towards winding up the company that owes you money. It is the right form to use if the debt in question is owed by a company and is payable immediately or already overdue.

Statutory demands can be very useful to show that you are serious about collecting the money that you are owed, and that you are prepared to escalate the situation if you have to.

Once you have filled in your SD1 form, do not just post it. There are specific rules you must follow to make sure that the recipient gets it, and that you can prove they got it, even if they deny receipt which is fairly common. See Dealing with late payments without going to court for how to send your completed statutory demand to a company.

If you have a court order for the amount you are owed, you need Form SD4.

You can also purchase this guide as part of the Debt collection toolkit.

Q&A

  • When should I use this document?

    Use this step-by-step guide to form SD1 to assist you in filling in the SD1 form properly.

    The SD1 form is appropriate for use if you are owed money by a company. They must owe you £750 or more for you to be able to use the SD1 form to threaten to wind up their company if they do not pay what you are owed. See Dealing with late payments without going to court for further guidance.

    Even if you are not sure whether you want to pursue the matter further by actually trying to wind up the company if they do not pay you, the risk of it can prompt payment if your chasing letters were not enough.

  • What does this document cover?

    This document is a step-by-step guide to properly filling in the statutory demand form SD1.

    It leads you through the whole form, explaining in a straightforward way which boxes to write in and what to put, depending on your circumstances.

  • Why do I need this document?

    It is important to complete form SD1 properly. This step-by-step guide to filling it in helps you to get it right first time.

    If you later want to take the next step and start trying the wind up the company that owes you money, errors on your statutory demand can mean unnecessary delays and expense. At worst, it could mean having to pay any legal costs that your debtor has incurred in pointing out your errors, and then having to start the whole process again with a properly completed SD1 form.

    It is far better to take care the first time round so there can be no excuses.

  • Where can I find out more?

    For more information about statutory demands, when they are appropriate and how to send one, see Dealing with late payments without going to court.

    For the other statutory demand forms, each of which covers a different type of debtor, see:

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