Post-Judgment: Basic Steps for Handling a Small Claims Earnings Garnishment
Wisconsin · Wisconsin Court System · Effective November 19, 2021
This guide provides general steps for handling an earnings garnishment in a small claims case to recover a judgment of $10,000 or less. It outlines the actions for both the person seeking money (creditor) and the person whose wages are being taken (debtor).
The court describes it as: Basic Steps for Handling a Small Claims Earnings Garnishment. Voluntary form.
Where this fits in a case
After judgmentStage: After judgment
This guide is used after a small claims judgment has been won and the creditor needs to take money directly from the debtor's paycheck through the debtor's employer.
Either party may file.
Common questions
- What is an earnings garnishment?
- It is a process that lets an employer take money from a person's paycheck and send it to the person who won the judgment to pay the debt. This guide is general information and not legal advice.
- Who files the initial notice?
- The creditor must fill out and file the Earnings Garnishment Notice (CV-421) form and pay the required fee to the clerk of court.
- Do I file the Garnishment form (CV-422) with the court?
- No, after filing the notice, the creditor completes the Earnings Garnishment (CV-422) form but does not file it with the clerk of court; they keep both copies.
Revision history
No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect November 19, 2021.
Related forms
- CV-421
Earnings Garnishment Notice
This form is a notice that starts the process of garnishing someone's earnings. It is used to collect money owed based on a civil judgment.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Dec 16, 2022
- CV-422
Earnings Garnishment
This form is used to officially notify the person who receives wages (the garnishee) and the person who owes the money (the debtor) that a process to take money from wages has started. It asks the garnishee to confirm if they will be owed money from the debtor's wages.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Jun 2, 2022
- CV-423
Earnings Garnishment - Exemption Notice
This form informs a person (the debtor) that a creditor has started a process to take money from their wages (earnings garnishment). It explains the total amount owed and details the rules about what portion of the wages might be exempt from being taken.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Nov 19, 2021
- CV-424
Earnings Garnishment - Debtor's Answer
This form allows a person who is being garnished for money to tell the court why they believe the garnishment is wrong or why some of their money should not be taken. It asks the court to consider several reasons for exemption or reduction of the garnishment.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Nov 21, 2019
- CV-425
Earnings Garnishment - Objection to Debtor's Answer and Demand for Hearing
This form lets a creditor object to an answer given by a debtor and asks the court to schedule a hearing to look at the issues in dispute. Filing this document restarts the court process regarding the earnings garnishment.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Nov 21, 2019
- CV-426
Garnishment Exemption Worksheet
This worksheet helps calculate how much of a person's earnings can be taken by a garnishment. It requires filling out several schedules to determine the amount that is exempt from garnishment.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Oct 7, 2010
- CV-427
Poverty Guidelines for Earnings
This form helps debtors figure out the federal poverty guidelines for their earnings based on their family size. This calculated amount is used to determine if there is an exemption from garnishment for earnings.
WordGeneral & info
Eff. Jun 30, 2026
- SC-518
Garnishee Answer to Creditor Earnings Garnishment (Small Claims)
This form is used by the garnishee—the person or company holding the debtor's money—to tell the court if the debtor's earnings will be taken by the creditor. It requires the garnishee to check boxes and provide details about the money owed.
WordAfter judgment
Eff. Nov 21, 2019