Attachment of earnings meaning

Procedural Guide This Procedural Guide explains the process for seeking an attachment of earnings order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 and the Family Procedure Rules 2010, SI 2010/2955, Pt 39, to enforce a maintenance order by directing deductions straight from a debtor’s earnings... Eligibility to apply Handling arrears exceeding 12 months Obligations of the employer and the debtor Where the judgment debtor is an employed individual, the judgment creditor may apply to enforce the judgment against the debtor’s wages or salary. If granted, the employer must make regular deductions from the debtor’s pay and remit those sums to the court. This is referred to as an attachment of earnings order (AEO). See also Practice Note: Attachment of earnings order... FPR 2010, SI 2010/2955, Pt 39 applies to any proceedings that began, but were not concluded, before 6 April 2016 (when procedural amendments were introduced), in the same manner as it applies to proceedings commenced on or after that...

How to use this index This Practice Note offers an index with links to the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955—the main procedural rules that apply to family proceedings—together with all supporting Practice Directions. Use the 'Table of Contents' tab on the left-hand side of the screen; it will expand to reveal every Part of FPR 2010 and the associated Practice Directions for each individual Part. To open material within FPR 2010, select the margin note to the right of the text for the specific Part or Practice Direction you wish to consult. When you are inside a Part of FPR 2010, click the 'Table of Contents' tab on the left to then expand that Part, display all rules contained in it, and allow you to navigate to the relevant provision you are interested in or require. Within FPR 2010, the 'Table of Contents' tab also lists all other Parts of FPR 2010, and individual rules can be navigated to by clicking on each relevant...

An attachment of earnings order (AEO) An AEO is a mechanism for enforcing maintenance obligations imposed by a court order made in the Family Court or the High Court, regardless of whether any arrears have accrued, by taking specified sums directly from the debtor’s wages. The order is addressed to the debtor’s employer, not the debtor. Once made, the employer must promptly remit prescribed amounts from the debtor’s pay to the court’s designated collecting officer, who then passes them on to the creditor. The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2016, SI 2016/355 amended the Family Procedure Rules 2010, SI 2010/2955 (FPR 2010), and, among other things, created a new Part 39 provision governing applications for an attachment of earnings order to secure payments due under a maintenance order. These provisions took legal effect on 6 April 2016. Under FPR 2010, SI 2010/2955, Part 39 is to be applied to any proceedings begun, but not concluded, before 6 April 2016, just as it applies to proceedings started on or after that...

This Practice Note on domestic enforcement sets out, in outline, the range of enforcement options available, which will vary according to the type of judgment obtained and the identity of the judgment debtor. The likelihood of success with any selected mode of enforcement depends heavily on the breadth and depth of your knowledge of the judgment debtor. Enquiries into the nature and location of assets held by the debtor should not wait until judgment is handed down, but should instead form part of diligent case management from first instructions and continue throughout the life of the claim. For guidance, see Practice Note: Successful enforcement—knowing your defendant. Successfully obtained judgment—what next? Unless they are experienced in litigation, a successful client will often assume that the other party will comply with the judgment or order made. However, unsuccessful parties do not always comply. It is important to recognise that the court will not automatically seek to enforce its judgments (see the comment in Amsalem v Raivid). The standard methods of...

Interest on judgment debts Judgment debts accrue simple interest at 8% per annum until paid, unless the court decides otherwise. By default, interest runs from the date judgment is given, unless the court, a rule or a Practice Direction provides differently. The court may order interest to run from a date before judgment. For further guidance, see Practice Note: Interest on judgment debts, together with the following Practice Notes: County Court judgments and orders—additional matters Which enforcement of judgment method should I choose?—in particular, the section: Which enforcement of judgment method should I choose?—In which court should you enforce your judgment—practical considerations Transferring a judgment from the High Court to a Country Court CPR 70.3 makes provision for transfer of proceedings in question, and states that an application must be made to the High Court before an order permitting the transfer of the proceedings will be granted by the court...

Tattersall v Tattersall In Tattersall v Tattersall, the husband moved to amend a maintenance order, while the wife pursued steps to compel compliance with that order...