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

How a creditor collects after a judgment, what the law protects, and how to claim it in time.

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). Property or bank account seized (levy): file a Claim of Exemptions (CIV-515) - and for property with value limits a Claim of Exemptions for Property Subject to Value Limits (CIV-537) - with the clerk of the court named on the Notice of Levy (CIV-510), in person or through TrueFiling, within 15 days after the seizure.

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

Protecting exempt money in Alaska

Property or bank account seized (levy): file a Claim of Exemptions (CIV-515) - and for property with value limits a Claim of Exemptions for Property Subject to Value Limits (CIV-537) - with the clerk of the court named on the Notice of Levy (CIV-510), in person or through TrueFiling, within 15 days after the seizure. Wage garnishment: file a Claim of Exemption from Garnishment (CIV-531) within 15 days after you receive the Notice of Garnishment and Notice of Right to Exemptions (CIV-530). Exemptions are not automatic: you must claim them. The court sets a hearing, and you must prove the exemption.

Law: AS 09.38.080(e)-(f); AS 09.38.085; forms CIV-510 (6/26), CIV-530, CIV-511

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

How long a judgment lasts in Alaska

Interest after the judgment

3 percentage points above the 12th Federal Reserve District discount rate in effect on January 2 of the year the judgment is entered. If the judgment is based on a written contract with a stated interest rate (no higher than the legal rate), the contract rate applies if it is written in the judgment.

How long it lasts

A creditor has 10 years to bring a new lawsuit on the judgment. If 5 years pass after the judgment without a writ of execution being issued, the creditor needs a court order to get one; the court grants it if there are just and sufficient reasons for the delay.

Law: AS 09.30.070(a); AS 09.10.040(a); AS 09.35.020

Judgment interest and how long a judgment lasts, by state

Your bank account after a judgment in Alaska

The creditor gets a writ of execution and has it served on your bank or other property holder; you get a Notice of Levy (CIV-510) with the creditor's affidavit. Only if you do not get regular weekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay, up to $1,890 a month in cash and liquid assets, including deposits, is protected (statute $1,400; 8 AAC 95.030). The creditor can also take part of your Permanent Fund Dividend.

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

Wage garnishment in Alaska

Alaska protects a dollar amount of your weekly take-home pay. The amount in effect by regulation is $473 a week (statute $350); the federal limit also applies and you keep whichever protects more. If your earnings alone support your household, you can file an affidavit to raise it to $743 a week (statute $550).

Law: AS 09.38.030; AS 09.38.050(b); 8 AAC 95.030

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

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 Alaska

  1. Watch for notices

    Notices from the court, your bank or your employer can carry short deadlines.

  2. Find where your money comes from

    Benefit letters and bank statements show which money is exempt.

  3. Claim your exemptions

    Alaska's rule: Property or bank account seized (levy): file a Claim of Exemptions (CIV-515) - and for property with value limits a Claim of Exemptions for Property Subject to Value Limits (CIV-537) - with the clerk of the court named on the Notice of Levy (CIV-510), in person or through TrueFiling, within 15 days after the seizure.

  4. Show up at the hearing

    Bring your proof to the hearing if the creditor objects.

Where to get free help in Alaska

Questions about collection after a judgment in Alaska

How much interest does a judgment add in Alaska?

3 percentage points above the 12th Federal Reserve District discount rate in effect on January 2 of the year the judgment is entered. If the judgment is based on a written contract with a stated interest rate (no higher than the legal rate), the contract rate applies if it is written in the judgment.

How long does a judgment last in Alaska?

A creditor has 10 years to bring a new lawsuit on the judgment. If 5 years pass after the judgment without a writ of execution being issued, the creditor needs a court order to get one; the court grants it if there are just and sufficient reasons for the delay.

How much of my pay can be taken in Alaska?

Alaska protects a dollar amount of your weekly take-home pay. The amount in effect by regulation is $473 a week (statute $350); the federal limit also applies and you keep whichever protects more. If your earnings alone support your household, you can file an affidavit to raise it to $743 a week (statute $550).

Can my bank account be frozen in Alaska?

The creditor gets a writ of execution and has it served on your bank or other property holder; you get a Notice of Levy (CIV-510) with the creditor's affidavit. Only if you do not get regular weekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay, up to $1,890 a month in cash and liquid assets, including deposits, is protected (statute $1,400; 8 AAC 95.030). The creditor can also take part of your Permanent Fund Dividend.

How do I protect exempt money in Alaska?

Property or bank account seized (levy): file a Claim of Exemptions (CIV-515) - and for property with value limits a Claim of Exemptions for Property Subject to Value Limits (CIV-537) - with the clerk of the court named on the Notice of Levy (CIV-510), in person or through TrueFiling, within 15 days after the seizure. Wage garnishment: file a Claim of Exemption from Garnishment (CIV-531) within 15 days after you receive the Notice of Garnishment and Notice of Right to Exemptions (CIV-530). Exemptions are not automatic: you must claim them. The court sets a hearing, and you must prove the exemption.

More for Alaska

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources