Skip to the guide
England & WalesEnforcement-law guidancePrimary law and procedure cited
Bailiff LawIndividual guidance pageBrowse this section

Can bailiffs seize items that belong to my autistic son, like his iPad or his Nintendo Switch?


No

Bailiffs may only take control of goods that belong to the debtor.[1]

An autistic person is a class of vulnerable people for the purpose of civil enforcement,[2][3] and bailiffs may not recover fees and charges from vulnerable debtors until the debtor has been given adequate opportunity to get advice in relation to the enforcement power.[4]

If the debtor is under 16, the bailiff may not take control of goods at all.[5][6]



[1] Paragraph 10 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[2] Paragraph 77 of the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014, April 2014
[3] See Bailiffs and vulnerable people
[4] Regulation 12 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[5] Regulation 2 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[6] Regulation 10 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013

Need case-specific help?Open the case-review form