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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.
Relevant Files
- This item is mapped from list block (Enforcement of Judgement) (Form EJ-160)
- Financial Statement (Form EJ-165)
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Prepare the claim of exemption
Prepare a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006) and Financial Statement (form WG-007)
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File the claim of exemption
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)
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Wait to see if the claim of exemption is opposed
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).
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Reply to the opposition, if any
Serve and file your reply, if any with the court
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Attend the hearing, if any
Gather your evidence. Check tentative rulings the court day before if your court uses them.
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Prepare the claim of exemption
Prepare a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006) and Financial Statement (form WG-007)
If your bank account is levied, you must act quickly! You have only ten days from the date of the levy to file a claim of exempltion (plus five days if the notice was sent be mail) with the sheriff performing the levy. -
File the claim of exemption
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)Read more content
Next Steps