Your WG-006 is ready. What to do next

This is a free tool. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. You fill in and sign the form yourself.
  1. Check and sign

    Open the PDF and read both pages. If something is wrong, fix it here and download again. Sign page 2 by hand. You sign under penalty of perjury, so everything must be true.

  2. Attach the Financial Statement if needed

    If you checked item 3b or 3c, the form says you must attach a completed Financial Statement (form EJ-165). You can fill it out here: Financial Statement (WG-007/EJ-165). The form says you can also get it free from the levying officer, at courts.ca.gov or at your court’s self-help center.

  3. Make copies

    The selfhelp guide says: make two copies of the completed forms and keep one for yourself.

  4. Give it to the levying officer, not the court

    Take or mail the original and one copy to the levying officer listed in the upper right corner of the Earnings Withholding Order (form WG-002), usually the local sheriff. The form says: “Return to levying officer. Do not file with court.” The sheriff keeps the original and sends a copy to the debt collector. Court guide

  5. Wait for a response

    The selfhelp guide says the debt collector has 10 days to respond. If it doesn’t respond, your claim is granted: the sheriff tells your employer to stop or reduce the garnishment and returns any extra money garnished after you filed. If it opposes, you will get by mail a Notice of Opposition (form WG-009) and a Notice of Hearing (form WG-010/EJ-175) with the date, time and place.

  6. If there is a hearing

    The guide says to file your reply at least five court days before the hearing (you can use form MC-030), ask the clerk whether your court uses tentative rulings, and bring proof such as pay stubs, bank statements and bills. Garnishment may continue while you wait, but the money will be returned if you win.

Good to know

  • The selfhelp guide says: “The sooner you act, the sooner your wage garnishment can be stopped or reduced.” It also says your employer cannot fire you for a single wage garnishment.

Sources: California Courts Self-Help Guide: Make a claim of exemption for wage garnishment · Wage garnishment · form WG-006.

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