Can a debt collector ever garnish my wages?

Yes, a debt collector can garnish your wages in Washington. But in order for them to do so, the debt collector must first obtain a court order. In Washington, the debt collector must file a lawsuit in court and get a judgment against you before they can garnish your wages. Once the debt collector has the judgment, they must then send the garnishment order to your employer. Your employer will then be required to deduct a certain amount of money from each of your paychecks until the debt is paid. Depending on the type of debt and the amount you owe, the garnishment amount is determined by the court. Washington also has laws that limit the amount of wages that can be garnished in any given pay period. The garnishment amount may not exceed 25 percent of the wages for that pay period. The court may also set the amount you will be allowed to keep each pay period and this may be less than 25 percent. In addition, the court can also require your employer to send a certain amount of your wages directly to the court, which will then be distributed to the debt collector. However, in Washington there are certain types of debts (like child support) where the garnishment limits do not apply and the entire amount of wages can be garnished.

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Can a debt collector ever garnish my wages?

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