Wage Garnishment

Wage Garnishment Lawyer

Wage Garnishment as a Judgment Collection Tool

Wage garnishment is the most commonly used judgment collection tool.  It allows the judgment creditor to take a percentage of the debtor’s earnings.  If the judgment debtor is a salaried employee, the creditor should immediately complete Florida’s wage garnishment procedures.

Need Help Implementing a Wage Garnishment in Florida?

In the majority of cases we can quickly implement a wage garnishment to begin collection of your judgment.  Please contact us at (888) 547-1881 to begin the process.

Marcadis Singer, PA focuses on collecting large debts from debtors throughout Florida.  We understand that collecting is extremely important to our clients, and we take our responsibility very seriously.  Please contact Marcadis Singer, PA at (888) 547-1881 for an initial analysis of your judgment and collection options.

How to Collect Commercial Debts via Wage Garnishments

1. To begin the garnishment, the creditor must first obtain a Writ of Execution.
2. Next, the creditor must deliver the Writ of Execution and an Application for Earnings Withholding Order to the sheriff’s department for the county in which the debtor works.
3. The sheriff will then serve an Earnings Withholding Order on the debtor’s employer.  The Earnings Withholding Order instructs the employer to withhold 25% of the debtor’s net earnings.
4. After a ten day waiting period, the employer will begin withdrawing funds from the debtor’s paychecks and delivering the funds to the sheriff.  The sheriff will then deliver the funds to the creditor.
5. Unless the debtor takes action, the employer will continue to withhold 25% of the debtor’s earnings until the creditor is paid in full or 10 years pass, whichever occurs earlier.
6. After the debtor is notified of the Earnings Withholding Order, the debtor has the opportunity to file a Claim of Exemption, which is a request to reduce the garnishment to less than 25% of the debtor’s net pay.  The request is made on grounds that the debtor needs some or all of the 25% to support himself and his family.  If the debtor files a Claim of Exemption, the judgment creditor is permitted to oppose the debtor’s Claim of Exemption and appear at a hearing at which the judge will determine the appropriate withholding amount.

Identifying the Debtor’s Employer for Wage Garnishment Purposes

Wage garnishments can be implemented quickly, if the creditor knows where the debtor works.  To learn of the debtor’s employment, creditors should first look to any credit applications or other documents previously submitted by the debtor to the creditor, as these may identify the debtor’s employer.  Private investigators can be used in more difficult cases.  Certain law firms (including ours) contract with excellent private investigators at much-reduced rates.  We can often identify the debtor’s employer within a matter of days.

Contact Marcadis Singer, PA Today for a Judgment Review

If you would like to implement a wage garnishment to collect your judgment, please contact us at (888) 547-1881.