In California, a debt collector can garnish your wages once they have obtained a wage garnishment order from a court. The process of obtaining a wage garnishment order typically takes several weeks to several months, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Once a wage garnishment order is obtained, the debt collector will typically notify your employer of the garnishment and your employer will begin deducting a portion of your wages to pay the debt. The amount of the garnishment is determined by the wage garnishment order, but it cannot exceed 25% of your disposable income or the amount by which your disposable income exceeds 40 times the state minimum wage, whichever is less.
It’s important to be aware that wage garnishments can have a significant impact on your finances and that they can continue until the debt is paid in full or until you take action to stop the garnishment. If you are facing a wage garnishment, you may want to consider speaking with a bankruptcy attorney to determine if filing for bankruptcy is a good option for you.