If your wages are garnished, the debt collector can take up to 25% of your after-tax wages. If your income is low or near minimum wage, the amount taken may be less than 25%. Unfortunately, some employers miscalculate the amount below 25%.
By law, your employer cannot fire you or take other action against you for a single wage garnishment.
If you are unable to afford the amount to be garnished from wages, a claim of exemption may reduce or stop the withholding. Act quickly! If you file within ten days you might be able to prevent the garnishment from starting. Even if the garnishment starts, file as early as possible, since the sheriff will hold onto funds levied after filing the claim of exemption. Once the garnishment starts and funds are transferred to the debt collector, it is almost impossible to get them back.
Prepare a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006) and Financial Statement (form WG-007)
File the original plus one copy with the sheriff shown on the Notice of Levy (form EJ-150) form within 10 days (15 days if the Notice of Levy was served by mail)
File the original plus one copy with the sheriff shown on the Order to Withhold Wages within 10 days (15 if the Order to Withhold Wages was served by mail).
Serve and file your reply, if any with the court
Gather your evidence. Check tentative rulings the court day before if your court uses them.
Prepare a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006) and Financial Statement (form WG-007)
Next Steps