Objection to Attachment of Earnings Order
Formal objection to a proposed or made Attachment of Earnings Order (AEO) on grounds of low income, protected earnings threshold, or procedural error.
When to use this template
Use this letter when you have received an Attachment of Earnings Order or a notice of a proposed AEO, and you wish to object because: your income is at or near the protected earnings threshold; the court was not notified of relevant changes in your circumstances; or the normal deduction rate would leave you unable to meet essential living costs. You should return the N56 form to the court and may also request a hearing.
When NOT to use this template
An AEO can only be made in connection with a judgment debt — if you dispute the underlying judgment, you need to apply to set aside the judgment, not object to the AEO. This letter is not a substitute for completing and returning the N56 earnings statement form to the court, which is required. If you are self-employed, an AEO cannot be made against you (different enforcement mechanisms apply).
Legal Basis
Attachment of Earnings Act 1971; Civil Procedure Rules Practice Direction 89. The Act requires the court to fix a protected earnings rate (the minimum income that must be left with the debtor). The normal deduction rate must not reduce the debtor's earnings below the protected rate. A debtor may apply for a hearing under s.14 of the 1971 Act.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Not returning the N56 earnings statement to the court — the court cannot fix the protected rate without information about your earnings
- ✗Not identifying your essential monthly outgoings in full — the court needs a realistic picture to fix a fair protected rate
- ✗Ignoring the AEO and not contacting the court — the employer will simply deduct the ordered amount, which may be more than you can afford
- ✗Not applying for a consolidation order if you have multiple AEOs against you — a single consolidated AEO may be cheaper
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Letter preview
[YOUR FULL NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS] [DATE OF LETTER] The Court Manager [NAME OF THE COURT] [COURT'S ADDRESS] Case Number: [COURT CASE NUMBER] Claimant: [CLAIMANT / CREDITOR NAME] Defendant / Debtor: [YOUR FULL NAME] --- Dear Sir or Madam, **OBJECTION TO ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS ORDER** **Attachment of Earnings Act 1971** I write as the defendant/debtor in the above-referenced case. I am writing to formally object to the Attachment of Earnings Order dated [DATE OF THE AEO OR PROPOSED AEO NOTICE] [or: proposed in the notice dated [DATE OF THE AEO OR PROPOSED AEO NOTICE]]. **The Order** The Order specifies a normal deduction rate of £[NORMAL DEDUCTION RATE SPECIFIED (£)] per [DEDUCTION PERIOD (E.G. WEEK / MONTH)] and a protected earnings rate of £[PROTECTED EARNINGS RATE SPECIFIED (£)] per [DEDUCTION PERIOD (E.G. WEEK / MONTH)]. **Grounds for Objection** [GROUNDS FOR YOUR OBJECTION] **My Income and Essential Expenditure** My current net earnings are approximately £[YOUR CURRENT NET MONTHLY INCOME (£)] per [DEDUCTION PERIOD (E.G. WEEK / MONTH)]. My essential monthly expenditure is as follows: [ITEMISED LIST OF ESSENTIAL MONTHLY EXPENDITURE] Total essential expenditure: £[TOTAL ESSENTIAL MONTHLY EXPENDITURE (£)] per month. After essential expenditure, I have approximately £[MONTHLY SURPLUS AFTER ESSENTIAL EXPENDITURE (£)] remaining per month for all other costs. The proposed normal deduction rate of £[NORMAL DEDUCTION RATE SPECIFIED (£)] per [DEDUCTION PERIOD (E.G. WEEK / MONTH)] would leave me unable to meet my essential living costs. **Request** I respectfully ask the Court to: 1. List this matter for a hearing at which I can attend and provide evidence of my financial circumstances. 2. Reconsider the normal deduction rate in light of the information provided. 3. Fix the protected earnings rate at a level that genuinely reflects my essential expenditure. I am also enclosing/attaching the completed Form N56 (Statement of Earnings) to assist the Court. Yours faithfully, [YOUR FULL NAME]
Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.