Can I give my stuff and my car away to stop bailiffs getting them?

If the bailiff is enforcing a high court writ, all the goods of the debtor become bound on the date the bailiff is instructed.^[1] This is the date on the writ of control.

If the bailiff is enforcing unpaid court fines, council tax or traffic contravention debts, the debtor being given the Notice of Enforcement binds the goods of the debtor.^[2] This will be the date of issue on the Notice, plus the time for first class post, which is the next business day.^[3]

If the debtor's address is different to the address on the Notice of enforcement, the debtors goods are not bound, and may be disposed, given away or sold.

If the debtor transfers bound goods, it does not affect the enforcement power over them.^[4]

Bailiffs have no way of knowing what goods the bailiffs own, they cannot even search the DVLA for vehicle registrations.

If the owner of your car can show evidence he bought the car on a date before it became bound, then he can make a third party claim.^[5][6]

^{[1] Paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

[2] Paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

[3] Civil Procedure Rule 6.3(1)(b)

[4] Paragraph 5 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

[5] Civil Procedure Rule 85.4

[6] See Making a third party claim}