Attachment of Earnings Act 1971

2 Principal definitions. E+W

In this Act—

(a) “maintenance order” means any order [F1 , decision, settlement [F2 , arrangement] or instrument] specified in Schedule 1 to this Act and includes [F3 one] which has been discharged [F4 or has otherwise ceased to operate] if any arrears are recoverable thereunder;

(b) “High Court maintenance order” [F5 and “family court] maintenance order” mean respectively a maintenance order enforceable by the High Court [F6 and the family court;]

(c) “judgment debt” means a sum payable under—

(i) a judgment or order enforceable by a court in England and Wales (not being a magistrates’ court);

(ii) an order of a magistrates’ court for the payment of money recoverable summarily as a civil debt; or

(iii) an order of any court which is enforceable as if it were for the payment of money so recoverable,

but does not include any sum payable under a maintenance order or an administration order;

(d) “the relevant adjudication”, in relation to any payment secured or to be secured by an attachment of earnings order, means the conviction, judgment, order or other adjudication from which there arises the liability to make the payment; and

(e) “the debtor”, in relation to an attachment of earnings order, or to proceedings in which a court has power to make an attachment of earnings order, or to proceedings arising out of such an order, means the person by whom payment is required by the relevant adjudication to be made.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2: words in definition of "maintenance order" inserted (18.6.2011) by The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), Sch. 7 para. 4(2)(a)

F2 Word in s. 2 inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The International Recovery of Maintenance (Hague Convention 2007 etc.) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2814), reg. 1(1), Sch. 4 para. 3(2)

F3 S. 2: words in definition of "maintenance order" substituted (18.6.2011) by The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), Sch. 7 para. 4(2)(b)

F4 S. 2: words in definition of "maintenance order" inserted (18.6.2011) by The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), Sch. 7 para. 4(2)(c)

F5 Words in s. 2(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 22(a); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)

F6 Words in s. 2(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 22(b); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11 )