After a debt judgment in Alabama: garnishment, bank levy, exemptions

What can be taken from your pay and bank account, and how to claim exempt money.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026.

Short answer

After a judgment, the creditor can ask the court to take part of your pay or freeze your bank account, but some money is exempt (protected by law). With the garnishment you get a notice of your right to claim exemptions (Form C-24D). To claim, fill out a Claim of Exemption listing all your wages and personal property, have it notarized, file it with the clerk, and mail or deliver a copy to the plaintiff.

How long it lasts
10 years
Interest after the judgment
See the rule
Exemption form
Official exemption form

How to claim an exemption in Alabama

With the garnishment you get a notice of your right to claim exemptions (Form C-24D). To claim, fill out a Claim of Exemption listing all your wages and personal property, have it notarized, file it with the clerk, and mail or deliver a copy to the plaintiff. If you knew about the garnishment, file it before the court enters judgment against the garnishee. The plaintiff then has about 10 days to contest. If it does not contest within 15 days after you file, the garnishment is dismissed or reduced. If it contests, a hearing is first set within 7 days.

Law: Ala. R. Civ. P. 64A, 64B; Ala. Code § 6-10-29; Form C-24D

Official exemption form

Count your deadline to claim an exemption

The date is counted in your browser.

Read the notice you got from the court, your bank or your employer.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Court holidays and local rules can change a deadline. File early, and ask the court clerk if you are not sure.

Exemption claim cover letter

Bank levies in Alabama

The creditor serves a garnishment on your bank. The bank must answer the court within 30 days. There is no separate bank account amount, but money in the bank can count toward your $7,500 personal property exemption. Federal benefits like Social Security are generally protected.

Law: Ala. Code § 6-6-393; Ala. Code § 6-10-6

Your bank must protect up to two months of Social Security, SSI, VA and some other federal benefits that were paid into your account by direct deposit. You don't have to ask.

Law: 31 CFR 212.5, 212.6

Interest and how long the judgment lasts in Alabama

Interest after the judgment

A judgment on a contract earns interest at the rate stated in the contract. Other judgments earn 7.5% a year.

How long it lasts

If no execution is issued for 10 years, the judgment is presumed paid and must be revived by a court motion before it can be collected. A judgment cannot be revived after 20 years from its entry.

Law: Ala. Code §§ 8-8-10, 6-9-190, 6-9-191, 6-9-192

Judgment interest and how long a judgment lasts, by state

Wage garnishment in Alabama

You keep 75% of your wages, and federal law also protects 30 times the federal minimum wage per week ($217.50). For consumer credit debts, state law uses the same federal formula.

Law: Ala. Code § 6-10-7; Ala. Code § 5-19-15

These garnishment limits are from our sister site, which checks them against official sources: Debt Collector Map: Alabama

For an ordinary debt, a creditor can take at most 25% of your take-home pay, or the part above 30 times the federal minimum wage if that is less. Many states protect more.

Law: 15 U.S.C. 1673(a)

Steps to protect your money in Alabama

  1. Watch for notices

    Each notice may start a short deadline, so read it right away.

  2. Collect your records

    Proof of where the money came from, like award letters, wins exemption claims.

  3. Claim your exemptions

    How it works in Alabama: With the garnishment you get a notice of your right to claim exemptions (Form C-24D).

  4. Go to the hearing

    If the creditor objects, the judge decides at a hearing. Bring your proof.

Where to get free help in Alabama

Questions about collection after a judgment in Alabama

What is the judgment interest rate in Alabama?

A judgment on a contract earns interest at the rate stated in the contract. Other judgments earn 7.5% a year.

How long does a judgment last in Alabama?

If no execution is issued for 10 years, the judgment is presumed paid and must be revived by a court motion before it can be collected. A judgment cannot be revived after 20 years from its entry.

Can my wages be garnished in Alabama?

You keep 75% of your wages, and federal law also protects 30 times the federal minimum wage per week ($217.50). For consumer credit debts, state law uses the same federal formula.

Can my bank account be frozen in Alabama?

The creditor serves a garnishment on your bank. The bank must answer the court within 30 days. There is no separate bank account amount, but money in the bank can count toward your $7,500 personal property exemption. Federal benefits like Social Security are generally protected.

How do I protect exempt money in Alabama?

With the garnishment you get a notice of your right to claim exemptions (Form C-24D). To claim, fill out a Claim of Exemption listing all your wages and personal property, have it notarized, file it with the clerk, and mail or deliver a copy to the plaintiff. If you knew about the garnishment, file it before the court enters judgment against the garnishee. The plaintiff then has about 10 days to contest. If it does not contest within 15 days after you file, the garnishment is dismissed or reduced. If it contests, a hearing is first set within 7 days.

Related Alabama pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources