Court action and CCJs · 4 min read
Attachment of earnings orders: when creditors can take money from your wages
After a county court judgment, a creditor can ask the court for an attachment of earnings order to take money directly from your wages. How the amount is set, your protected earnings and how to change or stop the order.
- Fact-checked
- Against official sources
- Last updated
- Next review due
- April 2027
- Applies to
- England and Wales
- Sources
- 2 listed on this page
Independent guidance, not a government service. This page is general information about the law in England and Wales, not financial or legal advice. Debt solutions have fees, risks and consequences. For free, impartial advice, contact MoneyHelper or a debt charity.
The short answer
If you don’t pay a county court judgment, the creditor can ask the court for an attachment of earnings order. Your employer then takes money straight from your wages. The court sets a protected earnings rate – an amount you must be left with – and a normal deduction rate. You’ll be asked to fill in a statement of means. If the deductions are too high, you can ask the court to change them.
How an attachment of earnings order works
- The creditor applies to the county court after you’ve missed CCJ payments.
- You’re sent a form asking about your income, spending and other debts (a statement of means). Fill it in fully and return it on time.
- The court makes the order, setting: - a normal deduction rate: how much your employer should take each payday - a protected earnings rate: the minimum you must be left with
- Your employer deducts the money and sends it to the court. Employers can usually take an extra £1 per deduction for admin.
If your pay drops below the protected earnings rate in a particular week or month, your employer can’t deduct anything that payday.
Who can’t get one?
Attachment of earnings orders only work if you’re employed. They can’t be made against self-employed income, and they can’t usually be made against benefits. Creditors might use other methods instead, such as a charging order or bailiffs.
Council tax is different
A council with a liability order can make its own attachment of earnings order without going back to court, using fixed percentages. Read council tax attachment of earnings.
If the deductions are too high
- Ask the court to vary the order. Explain your circumstances and provide an updated budget.
- Tell the court about any change in your income or job – you must do this anyway.
- Consider a consolidated attachment of earnings order if several creditors have CCJs against you. The court can combine them into one order.
- Look at the bigger picture. If you have several debts, a Debt Relief Order or IVA may include the CCJ debts and stop the deductions. Breathing Space can pause action while you get advice.
If you change job
You must tell the court within seven days if you leave your job or start a new one. The order can then be redirected to your new employer.
Frequently asked questions
Will my employer find out about my debt?
Yes, because they’ll receive the order. They must keep it confidential.
How much can be taken from my wages?
The court decides based on your income and essential spending, and sets a protected earnings rate that you must be left with.
Can I stop an attachment of earnings order?
You can ask the court to vary or suspend it. It ends when the debt is paid, or if the debt is included in certain formal debt solutions.
Sources
How we wrote this article
- Research: written from primary sources such as legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK and the Insolvency Service, then fact-checked by a second member of our team. The sources are listed above.
- Checked: last checked on . Next review due April 2027, or sooner if the rules change.
- Scope: applies to England and Wales. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, read our Scotland and Northern Ireland guide. It is general information, not personal advice.
- Independence: we are not a government website or service, and we are not connected to any council, court or enforcement company.
- Money: we may receive a fee if we introduce you to a debt advice firm. This doesn't change what we write. How we're paid.
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