New York law allows creditors to garnish your wages after obtaining a judgment. Learn how wage garnishment works in New York, what income is exempt, and how to stop it before it starts.
After a creditor obtains a money judgment against you in New York, they can serve an income execution on your employer. Your employer is then required to withhold a portion of your wages each pay period and send it directly to the creditor or marshal until the judgment is paid in full.
New York limits wage garnishment to the lesser of: (1) 10% of your gross wages, or (2) 25% of your disposable earnings minus 30 times the federal minimum wage. New York's limits are more protective than federal law.
The most effective way to prevent wage garnishment is to answer the debt lawsuit before a judgment is entered. If you were recently served, use our free NY debt answer tool to file your response before the deadline. Once a judgment is entered, your options become more limited.
Enter your name, the plaintiff's name, county, and index number from your summons. The form updates in real time.
Check the defenses that apply to your case — identity theft, paid debt, statute of limitations, wrong amount, and more.
Download your completed answer, sign it, make copies, serve the plaintiff's attorney, and file with the court clerk.
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