Form N337: How to Apply for an Attachment of Earnings Order (2026 Guide)

In short: Form N337 is the application for an attachment of earnings order — a court order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 that requires a debtor’s employer to deduct money from their wages and pay it toward an unpaid judgment debt. It suits debtors in regular PAYE employment and creates an ongoing, automatic payment stream. eLitigant drafts your N337 from your own documents, or checks the draft you’ve written.

The debtor has a job. They receive a regular salary or wages. Yet they are not paying the judgment debt. An attachment of earnings order bypasses the debtor entirely — it directs the debtor’s employer to deduct money from their wages and pay it directly to you.

This is one of the most reliable enforcement methods because it creates an ongoing, automatic payment stream. As long as the debtor remains employed, money is deducted from every pay packet. The debtor cannot avoid it, forget it, or choose not to pay. Form N337 is the application that starts the process.

Download Form N337

Form N337 (Application for Attachment of Earnings Order) is available from HMCTS:

• Download Form N337 from GOV.UK — Application for attachment of earnings order (PDF)

What Is an Attachment of Earnings Order?

An attachment of earnings order is a court order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 that requires the debtor’s employer to make regular deductions from the debtor’s earnings and pay them to the court, which then forwards the money to you (the judgment creditor).

The court sets two key figures:

• The normal deduction rate — the amount to be deducted from each pay packet when the debtor earns above the protected level
• The protected earnings rate — the minimum amount the debtor must be left with after deductions. This protects the debtor from being left unable to meet basic living expenses

The employer has no choice in the matter. Once served with the order, they are legally obliged to make the deductions and forward the money. Failing to comply is a criminal offence.

When Is an Attachment of Earnings Order Appropriate?

An attachment of earnings order is ideal when:

• The debtor is in regular PAYE employment — receiving wages or salary from an employer
• You want ongoing, automatic payments rather than a one-off capture
• You know (or can discover) the debtor’s employer
• Other enforcement methods have failed or are unsuitable — no property for a charging order, no assets for bailiffs, no known bank account for a third party debt order
• The judgment debt is too large to be paid in a single lump sum

An attachment of earnings order is less suitable when:

• The debtor is self-employed — the order only works against employers. Self-employed debtors have no employer to serve the order on
• The debtor is unemployed or receiving only benefits
• The debtor changes jobs frequently — each time they change employer, a new order must be served
• You want immediate payment — the process takes time to set up and payments come in instalments over months or years
• The debtor earns very little — the protected earnings rate may leave almost nothing for deduction

The Court Fee

The current fee for applying for an attachment of earnings order is £139. This is added to the judgment debt and recoverable from the debtor.

If you cannot afford the fee, apply for fee remission using Form EX160.

What Information Do You Need?

Before applying, you need:

• An enforceable judgment for a sum of money
• The debtor’s employer’s name and address
• The amount still outstanding on the judgment (including accrued interest)

If you do not know who employs the debtor, apply for an order to obtain information (Form N316) first. The debtor will be required to disclose their employment details under oath.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete Form N337

Section 1: Case Details

Enter the claim number, claimant name (judgment creditor), and defendant name (judgment debtor) — exactly as they appear on the judgment.

Section 2: The Judgment

Provide:

• Date of the judgment
• The court that made the judgment
• The original judgment amount
• The amount currently outstanding (including interest)
• The daily rate of interest accruing

Section 3: The Debtor’s Employment

Provide the debtor’s employer details:

• Employer’s name
• Employer’s address
• Debtor’s job title or role (if known)
• Debtor’s works or payroll number (if known)

Section 4: Statement of Truth

Sign and date confirming the information is true.

What Happens After You Apply

1. The court sends the debtor Form N56 — a questionnaire requiring the debtor to disclose their full financial details: income, expenditure, debts, dependants, and employer information
2. The debtor must complete and return Form N56 within 8 days
3. The court reviews the financial information — a district judge sets the normal deduction rate and protected earnings rate based on the debtor’s income and essential expenditure
4. The court makes the order — either on paper (if the figures are clear) or after a hearing (if there is a dispute about what the debtor can afford)
5. The order is served on the employer — who must begin making deductions from the next pay date
6. The employer pays the deducted amounts to the court — the court then forwards the money to you

Protected Earnings

The court must ensure the debtor retains enough income to meet basic living expenses. The protected earnings rate is the minimum the debtor must be left with after deductions.

There is no fixed formula — the court considers the debtor’s individual circumstances including rent or mortgage, council tax, utilities, food, transport, childcare, and other essential costs. The court balances your right to recover the debt against the debtor’s need to maintain a basic standard of living.

In practice, the court typically allows the debtor to keep enough for essential expenditure and orders deductions from any surplus above that level. If the debtor earns very little, the deductions may be modest — perhaps £50–£100 per month. If the debtor has a good income, the deductions can be substantially more.

What If the Debtor Does Not Return Form N56?

If the debtor fails to complete and return the financial questionnaire, the court can:

• Make the attachment of earnings order based on the information available — which may result in higher deductions than if the debtor had disclosed their circumstances
• Issue a committal order — requiring the debtor to attend court to explain their failure to comply

It is usually in the debtor’s interest to complete Form N56 — without it, the court may set deductions higher than the debtor can actually afford.

The Employer’s Obligations

Once served with the order, the employer must:

• Make the deductions from each pay period as specified in the order
• Pay the deducted amount to the court within the time specified
• Notify the court if the debtor leaves their employment
• Comply with the priority rules — certain deductions take priority over attachment of earnings orders (income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, and existing attachment orders for maintenance/child support)

The employer can deduct a small administrative charge (currently £1 per deduction) from the debtor’s pay to cover their costs of operating the order.

An employer who fails to comply with an attachment of earnings order commits an offence and can be fined.

What If the Debtor Changes Jobs?

If the debtor leaves their employment, the order lapses. The employer must notify the court. If you discover the debtor’s new employer, you can apply for the order to be redirected to the new employer. The debtor is also required to notify the court of any change of employment.

Frequent job changes can make this enforcement method frustrating. Each time the debtor moves, there is a gap in deductions while the new order is set up. If the debtor is in unstable employment, a different enforcement method may be more effective.

Common Mistakes on Form N337

• Not knowing the employer — you must name the debtor’s employer. If you do not know who employs the debtor, apply for an order to obtain information (N316) first
• Applying against a self-employed debtor — the order only works against employers. If the debtor is self-employed, consider a third party debt order or charging order instead
• Not including accrued interest — calculate and include judgment interest at 8% per annum from the date of judgment
• Expecting immediate payment — the process takes several weeks to set up (debtor receives Form N56, has 8 days to return it, court reviews, order made, served on employer). Plan for a delay of 6–8 weeks before deductions begin
• Not monitoring payments — once deductions start, check that payments are arriving regularly. If they stop, the debtor may have changed jobs or been dismissed

Related Court Forms & Guides

• Form N260: Statement of Costs — the costs schedule used at summary assessment.
• Form N244: Application Notice — the form for interim applications.
• Start a Money Claim Online (OCMC) — where most civil money claims begin.
• Particulars of Claim — setting out the basis of your claim.
• Civil Court Forms Index — every civil court form guide in one place.

Key Points to Remember

• An attachment of earnings order deducts money directly from the debtor’s wages — the employer pays it to the court, which forwards it to you. The debtor cannot avoid it while employed.
• The debtor must be in PAYE employment — this method does not work against self-employed debtors.
• You need the employer’s name and address — if you do not have these, use an order to obtain information (N316) first.
• The court sets the deduction rate based on the debtor’s income and essential expenditure. The debtor is protected from deductions that would leave them unable to meet basic living costs.
• The court fee is £139 — added to the judgment debt. Apply for fee remission (EX160) if needed.
• Payments come in instalments — this is a steady stream, not a one-off capture. Useful for large debts that cannot be paid in a lump sum.

Get Help With Wage Enforcement

An attachment of earnings order creates a reliable payment stream straight from the debtor’s wages. Chris can help you assess whether this is the right method, prepare the application, and guide you through the process from start to finish.

Related Guides

• How to Enforce a County Court Judgment
• Form N316: Order to Obtain Information (Discover Assets)
• Form N349: Third Party Debt Order (Freeze Bank Account)
• Form N323: Warrant of Control (Bailiffs)
• Form N379: Charging Order on Property
• Form EX160: Help with Court Fees (Fee Remission)

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Frequently asked questions

What is an attachment of earnings order?

It is a court order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 that requires the debtor’s employer to make regular deductions from the debtor’s earnings and pay them to the court, which then forwards the money to you (the judgment creditor). The employer has no choice once served — failing to comply is a criminal offence.

When is Form N337 the right enforcement route?

It is ideal when the debtor is in regular PAYE employment, you want ongoing automatic payments rather than a one-off capture, you know (or can discover) the employer, and other methods are unsuitable. It is less suitable if the debtor is self-employed, unemployed or on benefits only, changes jobs frequently, or earns very little.

What does the court fee cost?

The page states the current fee for applying for an attachment of earnings order is £139, which is added to the judgment debt and recoverable from the debtor. If you cannot afford the fee you can apply for fee remission using Form EX160. Always check the current HMCTS fee before filing.

What information do I need before applying?

An enforceable money judgment, the debtor’s employer’s name and address, and the amount still outstanding (including accrued interest). If you do not know who employs the debtor, you can apply for an order to obtain information (Form N316) first.

What is the normal deduction rate and the protected earnings rate?

The normal deduction rate is the amount taken from each pay packet when the debtor earns above the protected level. The protected earnings rate is the minimum the debtor must be left with after deductions, so they can meet basic living expenses. There is no fixed formula — the court weighs the debtor’s individual circumstances.

What happens after I apply?

The court sends the debtor Form N56, a financial questionnaire they must complete and return within 8 days. A district judge then sets the deduction and protected earnings rates, makes the order (on paper or after a hearing), and serves it on the employer, who begins deductions and pays the court, which forwards the money to you.

Related guides: Charging order guide · Third party debt order guide · Form EX160 fee remission · All civil court forms