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WG-002Mandatory

Earnings Withholding Order

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2026

This form is an Earnings Withholding Order, which tells an employer that they must take money out of an employee's wages and give it to a specific person or office. It provides instructions on when the withholding must start and how much money needs to be taken out.

The court describes it as: Tells the employer (orders) to garnish wages of an employee. This sheriff, marshal, or constable may prepare this form or ask you to prepare it for them.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Judgment

Stage: Judgment

This form is used when a court has already made a judgment and a creditor needs to collect that money by having the employer withhold wages from the employee.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who fills out this form?
The form is prepared by a levying officer, sheriff, marshal, or constable, or they may ask someone else to prepare it for them.
What does the employer need to do after receiving this order?
The employer must give a copy of the order and instructions to the employee within 10 days. They must also send a completed Employer's Return form within 15 days.
Does this form tell the employer how much to withhold?
The instructions explain how to calculate the correct amount to withhold, which depends on the employee's disposable earnings and the minimum wage.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2026.

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