Winning a judgment against someone doesn't automatically get you paid — a creditor typically has to take an additional step, like a writ of garnishment, to actually collect. Understanding how garnishment works matters whether you're the one collecting or the one facing it.
How a garnishment gets started
After obtaining a judgment, a creditor generally has to file a separate garnishment action, often requiring the court to issue a writ directed at the debtor's employer or bank, ordering a portion of wages or funds to be withheld and paid toward the judgment.
There are limits on how much can be taken
Federal law caps wage garnishment at a percentage of disposable earnings, and some states set even stricter limits or exempt certain income types entirely (like Social Security) — a garnishment that exceeds these limits can be challenged.
Some debtors can claim exemptions
Depending on the state, certain amounts or income sources may be exempt from garnishment — head-of-household exemptions, for instance. Filing a claim of exemption properly and on time is often the only way to reduce or stop an otherwise valid garnishment.
Responding to a garnishment notice quickly matters
Garnishment proceedings typically come with short deadlines to object or claim an exemption — missing that window can mean the garnishment proceeds at the full amount even where a valid objection existed.