Examination Summons

What it is

An examination summons is a court order that requires a debtor to attend court and answer questions about their income, assets and liabilities. Its purpose is to uncover what the debtor can actually pay, so the creditor can choose the most effective enforcement step.

It is used after judgment, when the creditor needs reliable information about the debtor's financial position.

Why it matters

Effective enforcement depends on knowing where a debtor's money is. An examination can reveal employment, bank accounts, business interests or assets that then support a garnishee order or seizure. It can also prompt payment, because debtors often prefer to settle rather than disclose their full position.

Merion uses examinations and other tools to build an enforcement picture for clients at refer a debt.

Good to know

This is general information and not legal advice. A debtor who is properly served and fails to attend an examination, or who attends but refuses to answer, can face further court consequences. The information obtained must be used appropriately and in line with privacy obligations, and only for the purpose of enforcing the debt. An examination complements skip tracing: tracing finds the debtor and confirms how to reach them, while an examination confirms their current means and points to which assets or income are worth pursuing through the right enforcement step.