How to Garnish Wages in California (2025 Update): A Guide for Judgment Creditors

Wage garnishment is one of the most direct ways to turn a paper judgment into real money. With the proper paperwork, a Sheriff or Marshal can order your debtor’s employer to withhold a portion of wages and pay them over to you until the judgment is satisfied. But California wage garnishment law is technical, and recent updates in 2025 have added new hurdles. If you don’t follow each requirement precisely, your garnishment may be rejected or void.

This updated guide explains how to garnish wages in California—from judgment to paycheck.

Step 1: Start with a Valid Judgment

Before you can initiate wage garnishment, you must have a valid, enforceable judgment. In California, judgments are enforceable for 10 years and may be renewed for another 10. Post-judgment interest accrues at 10% annually, and you may recover certain enforcement costs.

To ensure those amounts are added to the balance, file a Memorandum of Costs (MOC). Without this filing, your writ of execution may not reflect the full amount you are owed.

Step 2: Identify the Employer and Obtain the Right Writ of Execution

The foundation of wage garnishment is confirming that your debtor is a W-2 employee. Garnishments only apply to wages. If the debtor is paid on a 1099, you’ll need to use an assignment order or other remedies.

Once you know the employer, you must determine who can accept service of the Earnings Withholding Order (EWO). For corporations and LLCs, that is usually the registered agent listed with the California Secretary of State. For small businesses, it may be the owner or payroll manager.

This information is essential because your writ of execution must be directed to the county where the employer is located. For example, a judgment entered in Los Angeles but enforced against an employer in San Diego requires a writ issued in Los Angeles but directed to the San Diego Sheriff. Without the correct county writ, the levying officer cannot act.

Step 3: Prepare the Garnishment Packet and Submit It to the Sheriff

With a valid writ of execution, prepare the packet for the levying officer. This typically includes:

  • Application for Earnings Withholding Order (WG-001)
  • The Earnings Withholding Order itself (WG-002)
  • Employer’s Return (WG-005)

In many counties, the Sheriff’s office provides its own instructions and will accept the original writ plus WG-001.

As of 2025, creditors enforcing consumer debts must also include an Address Verification Declaration confirming the debtor’s last known address. This document is not filed with the court. Instead, it must be submitted to the levying officer within 10 court days of delivering your packet. If omitted, the levy is invalid.

Once complete, deliver the package to the Sheriff or Marshal in the county where the employer is located. The officer will then serve the employer with the order and instructions.

Step 4: Employer Compliance and Possible Exemptions

Once served, the employer must:

  • Withhold up to 25% of the debtor’s disposable wages and forward those amounts to the Sheriff.
  • Complete and return the Employer’s Return (WG-005) confirming compliance.

At this stage, the debtor can attempt to claim hardship by filing a Claim of Exemption (WG-006) and Financial Statement (WG-007). If this happens, you must respond quickly with a Notice of Opposition (WG-009) or risk losing your garnishment.

For a detailed guide on this process, see our related post:
Defending Your Claim: A Technical Guide to Opposing Claims of Exemption in California Wage Garnishment and Bank Levies.

Common Mistakes That Invalidate Wage Garnishments

Many garnishments fail not because the debtor lacks wages, but due to procedural errors:

  • Obtaining a writ of execution for the wrong county.
  • Serving the debtor instead of the employer or registered agent.
  • Allowing the writ to expire after 180 days.
  • Forgetting the Address Verification Declaration in consumer debt cases.

These mistakes can delay recovery for months.

Quick Checklist for California Wage Garnishment

✅ Confirm you have a valid judgment and file a Memorandum of Costs.

✅ Verify that the debtor is a W-2 employee.

✅ Obtain a writ of execution directed to the county where the employer is located.

✅ Assemble the packet: writ, EWO forms, Employer’s Return, and (for consumer debts) the Address Verification Declaration.

✅ Deliver the packet to the Sheriff/Marshal in the proper county.

✅ Monitor compliance and be ready to oppose a Claim of Exemption.

Final Thoughts

Wage garnishment in California is one of the most reliable ways to enforce a judgment, but the process is highly technical. Recent 2025 updates add new requirements, and even small mistakes can make your levy ineffective. Working with an experienced California judgment enforcement attorney can ensure compliance, speed recovery, and prevent wasted time and expense.