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Wage
Garnishments
Thousands of cases, millions of results
Step 7: Judgment on Answer & Order to Pay We then prepare a motion for Judgment on Garnishee’s Answer (often combined with an Order to Pay). This is a request for the court to review everything and formally order the employer to hand over the withheld money. We attach proof: the employer’s answers, proof of service, and a calculation of any accrued interest or allowable attorney fee (Washington allows up to $300 in attorney fees for a garnishment, which we add to the judgment when appropriate). The court signs an order directing the employer to pay the funds (either directly to us as your attorneys, or to the court who then disburses to us – practices vary slightly by county).
Step 8: Collection of Funds and Next Steps The employer, upon receiving the order, will send the checked funds for the amount garnished. We receive those funds and promptly forward them to you (minus any contingency fee or costs per our agreement). We’ll also file a partial satisfaction of judgment with the court for the amount collected, as required by law, and update you on the remaining balance (if any). If a balance remains, we evaluate the next steps: possibly repeating the garnishment for another 60 days (we’d simply issue a new writ) or looking at a bank garnishment or other methods if needed. Our goal is to rinse and repeat until you’re paid in full.
Step 5: 60-Day Withholding Period With a continuing lien, the employer will withhold the calculated percentage from each of the debtor’s paychecks for up to 60 days from service. During this period, nothing is yet released to you; it’s accumulating under the court’s order. We often correspond with the employer during this time if needed and keep you updated on approximate amounts being held.
Step 6: Second Answer (for continuing liens) (Unique to wage garnishments): After the 60 days, for an earnings garnishment the employer must send a Second Answer (sometimes called a Second Disclosure) stating the total amount they ended up withholding. For example, “We have withheld \$X from Debtor’s wages over the past 60 days.” This final figure is what we can now move to turn over to you.
Step 3: Serve the Employer and Notify the Debtor Once issued, the writ and a packet of documents must be formally served on the employer (garnishee). We handle service through a professional process server or sometimes certified mail as allowed. The packet includes the writ itself and other required forms: an Answer form for the garnishee, a Notice of Garnishment and Your Rights for the debtor, and Exemption claim forms. We also mail copies to the debtor so they are notified (this is legally required). Proper service is critical – if it’s done wrong, the garnishment can fail, which is why our expertise here matters.
Step 4: Employer’s First Answer The employer is legally required to respond, usually within 20 days, by filing an Answer to the Writ. In their Answer, the employer will state whether the debtor works there, and how much earnings can be withheld (after calculating exemptions). Essentially, they confirm they’ve begun withholding from the debtor’s paycheck. We make sure to follow up if we don’t receive the answer on time. In many cases, employers comply routinely – wage garnishments are common court orders for payroll departments.
Step 1. Apply for the Writ of Garnishment. We draft an Application for Writ of Garnishment and submit it to the court that issued your judgment. This application provides details: the case info, the amount owed (including judgment balance, interest, and allowable costs/fees), and the name/address of the debtor’s employer.
Step 2: Court Clerk Issues the Writ The court reviews the application (mostly checking that it’s filled out correctly and the judgment is valid). The clerk then issues a Writ of Garnishment directed to the employer. We typically get this turned around quickly – often the same or next day from filing.
How the wage garnishment process works
Wage Garnishment: The most reliable name in turning judgments into paychecks
Garnishing a debtor's wages is often the most reliable way to get paid on a judgment. Here is how wage garnishment works in Washington - and how Garnishment Gurus makes sure you collect efficiently
What is a wage garnishment
A wage garnishment (in Washington also called a Continuing Lien on Earnings) is a legal process where a portion of a debtor’s paycheck is withheld by their employer to satisfy an unpaid judgment. In simpler terms, once you have a court judgment saying someone owes you money, you can ask the court to issue a Writ of Garnishment to that person’s employer. The writ orders the employer (the “garnishee”) to route part of the debtor’s wages to you, the creditor, instead of to the debtor.
In Washington, wage garnishments are governed by RCW 6.27, and they have special rules:
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A wage garnishment creates a continuing lien on the debtor’s earnings for up to 60 days from the date the writ is served. That means it doesn’t just grab a single paycheck – it will affect all paychecks issued in that 60-day window.
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Limits on amount: You cannot take a debtor’s entire paycheck (Washington law wants to ensure debtors can still pay basic expenses). For most types of debts, the maximum you can garnish from wages is 25% of the debtor’s net (after-tax) earnings each pay period. The debtor must be left with a minimum protected amount. As of 2025, the law ensures the debtor keeps at least 85% of their net earnings or 50 times the state minimum hourly wage per week, whichever is greater, as exempt income. In practical terms, this usually works out to the 25% cap in many cases. (Our firm keeps track of the current exemption figures and updates them yearly on our site.)
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Wage garnishments do not automatically pay the judgment in full – they typically collect in installments from each paycheck. If the debt is large, it might only partially satisfy the judgment in those 60 days. However, if the balance remains, you can often re-garnish for another 60-day cycle (either immediately or after some required gap, depending on circumstances).
For many creditors, garnishing wages is one of the most effective tools because it taps into the debtor’s steady income. If the debtor is employed, you have a reliable source from which to draw payments. Employment garnishments continue until the 60-day period ends, capturing a chunk of each paycheck. Unlike bank garnishments (which only capture what’s in an account on a given day), wage garnishments ensure a stream of payments as long as the employment and earnings continue. It’s a bit slower – you get paid over two months – but often more certain. It essentially puts the debtor on a court-mandated payment plan.
Example: Suppose you obtained a judgment for $5,000 against John Doe. John works at Acme Corp. We serve a writ of garnishment on Acme. John is paid twice a month. Over the next 60 days (roughly 4 paychecks), Acme will withhold up to 25% of John’s take-home pay each check and eventually send those funds to us for your benefit. If John’s net pay is $2,000 each check, about $500 could be withheld per check (assuming that falls within the legal limits). Over 4 pay periods, you might collect roughly $2,000. If that doesn’t cover the full $5,000 (likely not), we could then pursue another garnishment after, or explore other assets for the remainder. But you’re $2,000 closer to getting paid than you were – and if John keeps working, we have a mechanism to capture the rest with subsequent actions.
Sit back, we've got this
Wage garnishments have multiple steps and technical requirements. Any misstep – like serving the wrong address, miscalculating an amount, missing a court form – can delay or derail the process. That’s where Garnishment Gurus takes the burden off you. We handle all paperwork, filings, and follow-up meticulously, so the garnishment runs like a well-oiled machine. Our experience with thousands of cases means we know the common pitfalls and tricks to streamline the procedure and ensure the process stays on the rails even when others try to derail it.
Your Partner Through the Process: While the legal steps above might seem daunting, we guide our clients through each one. We also keep open communication during the garnishment:
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You’ll know when the writ is filed and served.
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We inform you when the employer responds and how much they report will be withheld.
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We let you know if the debtor files an exemption claim (for wages, exemptions are typically pre-set by law, so it’s rare for additional claims, but if they do, we’ll handle the necessary objection and hearing to ensure you get what’s fair).
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After the 60 days, we tell you the results and move swiftly to get the court’s order to release the money. Essentially, you won’t be in the dark at any point.
Why Choose Garnishment Gurus for Wage Garnishment?
Many creditors ask, “Can’t I just do this myself?” Certainly it is possible! Keep in mind that attorneys regularly hire us to do this process as well, so the straightforward appearance is sometimes more of an appearance than a reality. As the saying goes, the devil is in the details:
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Proper procedure must be followed to the letter of the law. If an employer doesn’t respond, do you move for default against the garnishee? If the debtor claims an exemption or switches jobs mid-garnishment, what next? We have those answers at the ready.
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We know the nuances of Washington garnishment law, such as the difference between garnishing for a consumer debt vs. other debts (e.g., if this were a child support or private student loan debt, different boxes on the forms and different limits apply). Our expertise ensures compliance with each nuance.
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We also leverage some investigative savvy: For a wage garnishment to work, you need to know where the debtor works. If you aren’t sure, our team can help find employment information through lawful channels (including subpoenaing state employment records when appropriate). We often consult sources like LinkedIn or private databases to track down a debtor’s employer – increasing the chances of a successful garnishment.
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In short, we not only make the process easy for you, we often make it possible – many judgments go uncollected simply because creditors don’t know the procedures or don’t have the time to chase them. We do, and we love doing it. As one of our guiding principles states, “If it is unpaid, we try to make it paid.”
By having us handle your wage garnishment, you also avoid direct interaction with the debtor or their employer, which can be delicate. We act as your buffer and representative, so you maintain a professional distance. This means less stress for you, and a clear, authoritative approach to the debtor (they’ll know you mean business when a law firm is executing the garnishment).
Wage Garnishment vs. Bank Garnishment – Which to use?
Often, we will pursue both in due course. A bank garnishment can sometimes yield a quick win – if the debtor has money sitting in their bank, a one-time garnishment of the account could grab a lump sum in one go. However, debtors often don’t keep large balances. Wage garnishment ensures we tap into the debtor’s ongoing earning power. It’s common to start with a bank garnishment (for a potential immediate payout) and then follow with a wage garnishment for any remaining balance. Our strategy will depend on the information we gather on the debtor’s assets, but generally if a bank account is known or suspected to have funds in it, then we generally recommend garnishing it as well.
What does it cost?
Wage garnishment involves some court fees (filing the writ typically costs a filing fee, e.g. $20), certified mail costs ($30), and some other costs tend to bring the expenses to around $100. Most of our clients pay attorney fees only if we collect.
Ready to Garnish Wages and Get Paid?
If you have a Washington judgment and know (or suspect) the debtor is employed, don’t wait. The sooner we start a garnishment, the sooner you start recovering money. Contact Garnishment Gurus today for a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your judgment, discuss what information we need (like debtor’s workplace – if you aren’t sure, we’ll help find out), and get the ball rolling on turning that judgment into real dollars in your pocket. This is all we do, and we’re eager to do it for you.