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.
This template was not drafted by a solicitor.
It is an editorial reference based on the official sources we cite. You are responsible for any document you send. For high-stakes matters (court proceedings, large sums, deportation, criminal allegations, child welfare), have a regulated solicitor review or draft your document.
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.
Before you send
- 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
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
Build Your Letter
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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.