N337 Attachment of Earnings
Form N337 is used when the debtor is employed. It instructs their employer to deduct money from their earnings and send it to the court to pay your judgment debt.
N337 Attachment of Earnings Form
About Attachment of Earnings
Form N337 is used in situations where the defendant is in employment. It instructs their employer to deduct money from their earnings and send it to the court. This provides a reliable way to collect debt payments directly from wages or salary.
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More details are provided in our enforcement guide about attachment of earnings.
View Enforcement Guide →Eligibility Requirements
Before you can apply for an attachment of earnings order, several conditions must be met:
Court Judgment *
You must have obtained judgment in your favour
Debtor Employed *
Debtor must be in regular employment (not self-employed)
Minimum Amount *
Outstanding debt must be over £50
Failed Payment *
Debtor has not paid or is behind with payments
* All requirements must be met before applying
Special Rules
Special rules apply if the debtor is in the armed services or is a merchant seaman. Contact your local court for more information about these cases.
How the Process Works
The attachment of earnings process involves the court, the debtor's employer, and you:
Complete Form N337
Apply for attachment of earnings order
Court Assessment
Court requests debtor's financial statement
Order Issued
Court calculates appropriate deduction rate
Employer Notified
Employer receives order and begins deductions
How Deductions Are Calculated
• The court will request a 'statement of means' from the debtor
• This shows their income and essential living expenses
• The court calculates a fair deduction amount
• If income is too low, no attachment may be possible
• Deductions typically range from £5-50+ per week depending on income
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Regular, predictable payments
- Employer handles collections
- Continues until debt is paid
- Debtor cannot easily avoid payment
- No need to trace assets
Disadvantages
- Only works for employed debtors
- Low payment amounts if earnings are low
- Stops if debtor changes jobs
- Court sets the deduction rate
- May take time to set up
If the Debtor Changes Jobs
If the debtor changes employment, the attachment order stops and you'll need to:
- • Find out where they now work
- • Apply for a new attachment order with the new employer
- • Consider alternative enforcement if employment is unstable
Download Attachment of Earnings Forms
There are two forms related to attachment of earnings - one for searching existing orders and the main application form:
Form N336
Pre-application searchRequest and result of search in the attachment of earnings index
Search to check if the debtor already has attachment orders in place
Form N337
Main applicationAsk the court to make an attachment of earnings order
Main application form for attachment of earnings order
When to Consider Alternatives
Attachment of earnings may not be suitable if:
- • The debtor is self-employed or has irregular income
- • The debtor frequently changes jobs
- • The debtor's income is very low
- • You need faster recovery of the debt
- • The debtor has valuable assets that could be seized instead
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Quick Facts
For:
Employed debtors only
Minimum:
£50 outstanding debt
Deductions:
Court sets fair rate
Essential Requirements
- ✓ Court judgment obtained
- ✓ Debtor is employed
- ✓ Debt over £50
- ✓ Payment failure/arrears
Best For
- • Stable employment
- • Regular salary/wages
- • Long-term debt recovery
- • Avoiding asset seizure
Related Forms
N336: Search existing orders
N337: Main application