N349 Third Party Debt Order
Form N349 allows you to apply for a third party debt order (formerly known as a 'Garnishee Order'). This enables you to recover money owed by instructing a third party, typically a bank, to pay you directly from the debtor's account.
N349 Application for Third Party Debt Order
About Third Party Debt Orders
Form N349 - Application for third party debt order, used to be known as a 'Garnishee Order'. This form allows you to apply to a third party (typically a bank) to obtain monies belonging to the defendant.
Need Help Completing?
More details on how to fill in this form are provided in our enforcement guide.
View Enforcement Guide →How the Third Party Debt Order Process Works
The third party debt order process involves several stages from application to final recovery:
Complete Form N349
Fill in the application with debtor and third party details
Pay Court Fee
Submit the form with the required fee
Court Issues Interim Order
Court freezes funds and notifies third party
Final Order Hearing
Court decides whether to make the order final
Timeline
The process typically takes 4-8 weeks from application to final order, including the interim order period and final hearing.
What Accounts Can and Cannot Be Targeted
Third party debt orders have specific rules about which accounts and funds can be targeted:
Can Be Targeted
- Bank accounts and savings accounts
- Building society accounts
- Business accounts
- Investment accounts
- Money held by solicitors
- Funds held by other financial institutions
Cannot Be Targeted
- Joint accounts (unless debtor's share is clear)
- Accounts with less than £1 balance
- Protected benefits and pensions
- Money belonging to someone else
- Accounts already subject to other orders
- Frozen or disputed funds
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Can freeze funds immediately
- Effective if you know debtor's bank details
- No need for bailiff visits
- Can target multiple accounts simultaneously
Disadvantages
- Need to know third party details
- Upfront court fee required
- May not succeed if insufficient funds
- Complex legal process with hearings
When to Consider Alternatives
A third party debt order may not be suitable if:
- • You don't know the debtor's bank details
- • The debtor is employed (consider attachment of earnings)
- • You suspect the account has insufficient funds
- • The debtor has valuable assets (consider warrant of control)
- • The account is jointly held with unclear ownership
Download Third Party Debt Order Form
The link below will take you to the official form on GOV.UK:
Form N349
Apply to the court for a 'third-party debt order'
Official form for recovering money owed by targeting the debtor's bank accounts
Interactive Legal Chatbot
Quick Facts
Also Known As:
Garnishee Order
Timeline:
4-8 weeks typically
Success Rate:
Depends on account balance
Prerequisites
- ✓ Must have court judgment
- ✓ Know third party details
- ✓ Court fee required
Best For
- • Known bank account details
- • Debtors with regular income
- • Business accounts