Enforcement of Judgments Office (Northern Ireland)
The Enforcement of Judgments Office is a Northern Ireland court office that enforces civil judgments for the recovery of money, goods and property. One of its orders, an attachment of debt order (also called a garnishee order), gives the Office the power to freeze a debtor's bank account. An attachment of earnings order deducts a regular sum from a debtor's salary and sets a protected earnings rate, an amount the debtor keeps for living costs.
Good to know
A garnishee order is served on the bank and is conditional: it gives the bank a chance to appear before the Master to give reasons why the money should not or cannot be paid. The Master can decide any dispute about it. For an attachment of earnings order, the Office's page says a debtor may be given the chance to object, usually within 8 days, and a written objection is reviewed by an officer or, in some cases, the Master.
Before you call
They can
- tell you about enforcement orders, including an attachment of debt (garnishee) order that freezes a bank account, and an attachment of earnings order that takes a regular sum from your pay
- take a written objection to an attachment of earnings order, where you are given the chance to object: the Office's page gives the normal objection period as 8 days, so ask what date applies to you
They cannot
- set up an arrangement or take payment while you only have a Notice of Intention to Enforce: nidirect says to contact the person you owe, not the Office, at that stage
In the emergency guides: My bank account was frozen or closed → · I got a parking or traffic fine, or a court letter about one → · Money is being taken from my wages →
- Phone
- 0300 200 7812
- Website
- https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/enforcement-judgments-office
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
- Coverage
- Northern Ireland
- Languages
- English
- Last checked
- October 9, 2026
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