1 - Contact an approved intermediary (AI)
You will need to contact an approved intermediary (AI). They are qualified professionals who will make the debt relief notice (DRN) application on your behalf.
Once you have chosen an AI, you can prepare for the consultation in advance by gathering the details of your debts as well as your income, savings, assets, and expenses. The AI may send a pre-consultation questionnaire.
When providing information about your circumstances to your AI, you must act in good faith by giving full and honest information. It is an offence to intentionally provide false or misleading information in an application.
There is currently no fee for a debt relief notice (DRN). There is also no fee for the AI services.
If you choose to proceed, your AI will help you to complete the application and will submit the DRN application on your behalf.
2 - Your DRN is reviewed by the court
Once you have decided to apply for a debt relief notice (DRN), your approved intermediary (AI) will help you to complete your application. Once you are happy to proceed, you must sign a letter of confirmation called a letter of engagement.
Your AI will submit your DRN application to the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). The ISI will submit the application to the appropriate Circuit Court on your behalf.
Your application is reviewed by the court
When the court office has received your application they will issue a return date. This is the date when a judge will make a decision on your application. You or your AI are not required to attend court on the return date.
The Judge can make the following decisions:
- approve and issue the DRN
- refuse the application
- adjourn the application to request further information
- direct a court hearing to be held
The court office will notify and engage with the ISI and your AI for outstanding information or input as needed. You will never be required to attend court.
3 - The effects of your DRN
If your DRN application is approved, the ISI will send you a copy of the court order along with a list of the conditions you must follow for the next three years. Your name will be put on the Insolvency Service of Ireland's public register.
While your DRN is in place there are also conditions that your creditors must follow in relation to any debt that is included in your DRN.
The ISI can apply to the court to terminate your DRN if:
- you have given inaccurate information
- were not originally eligible for a DRN
- arranged your affairs to get a DRN
- breach of the conditions of your DRN
