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Process for Garnishment of Earnings

An earnings garnishment targets income a person has yet to receive for work and reallocates a certain percentage to be paid towards the debt. ARS § 12-1598(4) The garnishment may be made from wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, etc...

Examples of earnings include:
  • Wages
  • Salaries
  • Commissions
  • Bonuses

Generally the judgment looks to garnish 25% of the disposable income of a debtor.  If the judgment debtor can prove that there is an extreme financial hardship, the percentage may be reduced, but not lower than 15%. ARS §§ 12-1598.1 and 33-1131

Earnings may not be garnished if:

  • Their earnings are already being garnished of the maximum amount allowed by law;
  • They have a pending bankruptcy proceeding;
  • The money judgment has been discharded in a bankruptcy proceeding;
  • At the time the writ was served to the judgment debtor, the debt was subject to an effective agreement for debt scheduling between the judgment debtor and a qualified debt counseling organization; or
  • All available wages are exempt from collection.
Step 1: Complete and fill out captions on forms
Complete the following forms:
Print out, read, and follow:
Fill out the caption on the following:
The caption information is found on the first page. It often includes:
  • Name of the person filing and their contact information
  • Form of representation and the name/bar number of the attorney (if applicable)
  • Name of the courthouse and what county it is in
  • Case number
  • Name and contact information of the plaintiff
  • Name and contact information of the defendant
  • Name and contact information of the garnishee

You will also need to fill out the caption on one of the following depending on whether the money judgment you are seeking to collect is for support of a person:
The information offered on this site is made available as a public service and is not intended to take the place of legal advice. If you do not understand something, have trouble filling out any of the forms, or are not sure these forms and instructions apply to your situation, see an attorney for help. Consult a state Law Library or the Legal Aid Resources page for information on free or reduced cost legal aid for more information.
Not all forms may be accepted in all Arizona courts – you should contact the clerk of the court in which you will be filing to confirm the use of a particular form, determine whether any additional forms are required and verify the filing fees. The Arizona Bar Foundation assumes no responsibility and accepts no liability for actions taken by users of these documents, including reliance on their contents.