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WG-004Optional

Earnings Withholding Order for Support

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

This form is an official order that tells an employer to take money out of an employee's wages to pay a court judgment for child, spousal, or family support. It provides instructions to the employer on how much to withhold and when to pay it to the person collecting the money.

The court describes it as: Tells an employer (orders) to garnish wages of an employee for child, spousal, or family support. The 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 issued an order requiring an employer to withhold wages from an employee to pay a support judgment. The sheriff, marshal, or constable may prepare this form or ask the person needing it to prepare it.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

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

Common questions

Who needs to keep a copy of this paper?
The employee should keep a copy of this legal paper. The form also has a Spanish translation for this purpose.
What must the employer do after receiving this order?
The employer must give the employee a copy of this order and form WG-003 within 10 days. They must also complete and mail form WG-005 within 15 days.
Does the employer's duty to withhold end if the employee quits?
No, the duty to withhold does not automatically end just because the employee no longer works for the employer. It continues until one year after the employment ends.

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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