INSTRUCTIONS FOR WAGE DEDUCTION
A. BEGINNING A WAGE DEDUCTION PROCEEDING
(Read 735 ILCS 5/12-801 et seq of the Illinois State Statutes)
1. Prepare Wage Deduction Notice (See Wage Deduction Notice form.)
Copies required (4) Defendant Court File
Employer Your copy
2. Mail of copy of the Wage Deduction Notice to the Defendant
3. Prepare Wage Deduction Affidavit and interrogatories (see Affidavit for Wage Deduction Order form; and Order form to see
Interrogatories/Answer to Wage Deduction Proceedings.)
Copies required (6): Original for Court
Four (4) copies for Employer
Your copy
4. Prepare Wage Deduction Summons (see Wage Deduction Summons form and Service Page, which must accompany the
Wage Deduction Summons).
Copies required (3): Original for Sheriff/Process Server
Employer
Your copy
5. File the Wage Deduction Affidavit and Notice with the Circuit Clerk’s office.
6. The issued summons must be served on the employer by the Sheriff, Private Process Server, or by Certified Mail/return
receipt requested. Serve four (4) copies of the Affidavit/Interrogatories and one copy of the Summons and Wage
Deduction Notice. Also include a copy of the judgment or a certification of the judgment balance.
B. PROCEEDINGS IN COURT
1. Funds Answer - The employer has filed an Answer indicating that they are able to make deductions from the Defendant’s
wages. Prepare a Wage Deduction Order and file said order with the Court (See Wage Deduction Order form).
2. No Funds Answer - A No Funds Answer may be filed by the employer for one of several reasons:
a. The defendant is not employed. c. Insufficient income.
b. Prior child support deduction orders. d. Defendant filed bankruptcy.
If faced with one of the above responses, you must prepare an order either discharging the employer or continuing the
proceedings to a date in the future which will allow sufficient time for an employer to complete prior deductions (scroll down
for Non-Withholding Wage Deduction Order.)
3. NO ANSWER FILED BY EMPLOYER
If the employer fails to Answer, you may file a proposed order for conditional judgment against the employer for the full
amount due to the creditor. However, before issuing a Summons After Conditional Judgment, the creditor is advised to
contact the employer and determine whether or not the employer intends to file a late Answer with the Court. If the
employer is filing an Answer, do not request summons be issued unless the Answer is not, in fact, filed in a reasonable
period of time.
4. LATE ANSWERS BY EMPLOYER
If the employer files an Answer after the return date, a motion for entry of a deduction order should be made with notice
given to both the employer and the employee. If a conditional judgment has been entered, that conditional judgment should
be vacated at the same time that the wage deduction order is entered.
5. SUMMONS AFTER CONDITIONAL JUDGMENT
If the employer fails to appear in response to a Summons after Conditional Judgment, the Court may enter an order of final
Judgment against the employer for the original balance due on the conditional judgment plus additional court costs.
Additional interest does not accrue on the conditional judgment, only on the final judgment against the employer.
C. AFTER ENTRY OF DEDUCTION ORDER
1. Send a copy of the deduction order to the employer.
2. Send a Certification of Judgment Balance to the employer at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The mailing of
certifications should be commenced at the end of the first full quarter following service of the Wage Deduction Summons.
Example: Summons served April 6. September 30 is the end of the first full calendar quarter after service of summons.
The Certification should then be mailed between October 1 and 15. (See Certification of Judgment balance form)
Affidavit for Wage Deduction Order
NOTE: FOUR (4) COPIES OF THIS AFFIDAVIT MUST BE SERVED ON THE EMPLOYER
STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF MADISON
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CLERK
)
Plaintiff-Judgment Creditor )
)
vs. ) No.
)
)
Defendant-Judgment Debtor ) Answer Date
)
) (File Stamp Above)
) (21 to 40 days after date of
issuance of summons)
AFFIDAVIT FOR WAGE DEDUCTION ORDER
on oath states:
1. I believe employer is indebted to the judgment
debtor for wages due or to become due.
2. The last known address of the judgment debtor is
.
I request that the Circuit Court Clerk issue summons to the employer. I certify that a copy of the wage deduction notice was mailed to the
judgment debtor at the last known address prior to the filing of this wage deduction affidavit.
Name
Attorney No.
Address
City
Phone Date
Notary Public
CERTIFICATE OF ATTORNEY OR JUDGMENT CREDITOR
I, the undersigned certify under penalties as provided by law pursuant to section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure that the statements set
forth in this instrument are true and correct.
1. Judgment in the above captioned case was entered on
2. The amount of the judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
3. Allowable costs previously expended:
a) Initial filing fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
b) Original and alias summons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
c) Filing and summons cost of prior supplementary proceedings . . . . . $
4. Filing and summons cost for this garnishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
5. Interest due on judgment to date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
TOTAL $
Deduct: Total amount paid by or on behalf of
the judgment debtor prior to this garnishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
BALANCE DUE JUDGMENT CREDITOR $
Judgment Creditor/Attorney
INTERROGATORIES/ANSWER TO WAGE DEDUCTION PROCEEDINGS
Return Date:_______________ Case No. _______________________
Employer/Agent: , certifies under penalty of perjury that the following Answer is true
and correct to the best of his/her knowledge and belief concerning the property of the judgment debtor.
Debtor Name: Social Security No xxx-xx-
Do you pay monies to the judgment debtor listed above? Yes No
State whether any funds paid to the debtor are for disability, retirement or are in any other way exempt or subject to other Court Order:
One pay period equals: day(s) week(s) month(s)
CALCULATION TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF WITHHOLDING
(A) Gross Wages minus mandatory contributions to pension or retirement plan is (A)
(B) METHOD I 15% OF (A) = (B)
METHOD II
(C) Enter Total FICA, State and Federal Tax and Medicare (C)
(D) Subtract (C) from (A) = (D)
(E) Enter Minimum wage per pay period (for each week in pay period, 45 times (E)
the federal minimum hourly wage or, under a wage deduction summons served
on or after January 1, 2006, the minimum hourly wage prescribed by Section 4
of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, whichever is greater)
(F) Subtract (E) from (D) (F)
(G) Enter the lesser of Line (B) or (F) (G)
(H) Enter Child Support or other Court Ordered Deduction (H)
(I) Subtract (H) from (G) (I)
(J) Subtract Employer’s Statutory Fee (§5/12 814) (J)
(K) Amount to be applied to judgment (K)
Line I is the amount to be withheld from employee’s pay check as of the date of service of Summons and not disbursed until further order
of the Court.
Signature of Employer
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mail a copy of this Answer to the court and mail to attorney for Plaintiff and give a copy to the Defendant.
2. You will receive a copy of a Court Order by fax or mail instruction you how to proceed and where to send deducted funds.
DO NOT SEND THE MONIES WITHHELD TO THE CIRCUIT CLERK.
Employer/Agent: Clerk of the Circuit Court
Agent Name Madison County Courthouse
Employer Name 155 N. Main St. Ste. 120
Address Edwardsville, IL 62025
Phone
Fax
NOTE: A copy of this Answer should be mailed to the Court, Attorney for Plaintiff or Judgment Creditor and to the Defendant.
THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CLERK
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Plaintiff-Judgment Creditor
Vs. No.
Defendant-Judgment Debtor
WAGE DEDUCTION NOTICE
Employer
Name
Judgment Debtor’s
Address
City City
Phone Phone
Judgment in the amount of $ Return Date:
(Insert return date specified in summons)
NOTICE: The court shall be asked to issue a wage deduction summons against the employer named above for wages due or
about to become due to you. The wage deduction summons may be issued on the basis of a judgment against you in favor of
the judgment creditor in the amount stated above.
The amount of wages that may be deducted is limited by federal and Illinois law.
(1) Under Illinois law, the amount of wages that may be deducted is limited to the lesser of (i) 15% of gross weekly wages
or (ii) the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed the total of 45 times the federal minimum hourly
wage.
(2) Under federal law, the amount of wages that may be deducted is limited to the lesser of (i) 25% of disposable earnings
for a week or (ii) the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed 30 times the federal minimum hourly
wage.
(3) Pension and retirement benefits and refunds may be claimed as exempt from wage deduction under Illinois law.
You have the right to request a hearing before the court to dispute the wage deduction because the wages are exempt. To
obtain a hearing, you must notify the Clerk of the Court in person and in writing at
before the Return Date specified above. The Clerk of the Court will provide a hearing date and the necessary
forms that must be prepared by you or your attorney and sent to the judgment creditor and the employer, or their attorney,
regarding the time and location of the hearing. This notice may be sent by regular first class mail.
Name
Attorney No.
Address
Signature of Judgment Creditor or Attorney
City
Phone
Original to Court
Copy to Defendant
Address
Name
IN THE CIRUIT COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CLERK
MADISON COUNTY ILLINOIS
Plaintiff ) No.
vs. )
)
Defendant )
)
) Address of employer:
)
and )
)
Employer )
WAGE DEDUCTION SUMMONS
To the employer:
YOU ARE SUMMONED and required to file answers to the judgment creditor’s interrogatories, in the office of the
Clerk of this Court Illinois, on or before
, 20 .
(21 to 40 days after issuance of summons)
However, if this summons is served on you less than 3 days before that date, you must file answers to the interrogatories on or
before a new return date, to be set by the court, not less than 21 days after you were served with this summons.
This proceeding applies to non-exempt wages due at the time you were served with this summons and to wages which
become due thereafter until the balance due on the judgment is paid.
IF YOU FAIL TO ANSWER, A CONDITIONAL JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST
YOU FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE JUDGMENT UNPAID.
FEDERAL AGENCY EMPLOYERS: Effective upon service of this summons and pursuant to 5 USC 552(a), you are
to commence to pay over deducted wages to the attorney for the judgment creditor in accordance with
732 ILCS 5/12-808.
To the officer:
This summons must be returned by the officer or other person to whom it was given for service, with endorsement of
service and fees, if any, immediately after service. If service cannot be made, this summons shall be returned so indorsed.
This summons may not be served later than the above date.
Witness , 20____.
(Clerk of the Court)
(Seal of the court) By
______ Original to Court
______ Copy to Employer
(Plaintiff’s attorney or plaintiff if not represented by an attorney)
Name
Attorney for
Address
City
Telephone
SERVICE PAGE (Return original to Court after Service)
( Service and return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
(
SHERIFF’S FEES ( Miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(
( Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
I certify that I served this summons on defendants as follows:
(a)------- (Individual defendants personal):
(The officer or other person making service, shall (a) identify as to sex, race and approximate age of the defendant with whom the
summons was left, and (b) state the place where (whenever possible, in terms of an exact street address) and the date and time of the day
when the summons was left with the defendant.)
(b)------- (Individual defendants abode):
By leaving a copy and a copy of the complaint at the usual place of abode of each individual defendant with a person of the family
or a person residing there, of the age of 13 years or upwards, informing that person of the contents of the summons.
(the officer or other person making service, shall (a) identify as to sex, race and approximate age of the person, other than the
defendant, with whom the summons was left; and (b) state the place where (whenever possible in terms of an exact street address) and the
date and time of the day when the summons was left with such person.)
and also by sending a copy of the summons and of the complaint in a sealed envelope with postage fully prepaid, addressed to each
individual defendant at his or her usual place of abode, as follows:
Name of defendant Mailing Address Date of mailing
(c)------- (Corporation defendants):
By leaving a copy and a copy of the complaint with the registered agent, office or agent of each defendant corporation, as follows:
Defendant corporation Registered agent, officer or agent Date of service
(d)------- (Other service):
, Sheriff of County
By , Deputy
TITLE III OF THE FEDERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
RESTRICTIONS OF GARNISHMENT
Sec. 301. (a) The Congress finds:
(1) The unrestricted garnishment of compensation due for personal services encourages the making of predatory extensions of
credit: Such extensions of credit divert money into excessive credit payments and thereby hinder the production and flow of goods in
interstate commerce.
(2) The application of garnishment as a creditor’s remedy frequently results in loss of employment by the debtor, and the resulting
disruption of employment, production, and consumption constitutes a substantial burden on interstate commerce.
(3) The great disparities among the laws of the several States relating to garnishment have, in effect, destroyed the uniformity of
the bankruptcy laws and frustrated the purposes thereof in many areas of the country.
(b) On the basis of findings stated in subsection (a) of this section, the Congress determines that the provisions of this title are
necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying into execution the powers of the Congress to regulate commerce and to establish uniform
bankruptcy laws.
(82 Stat. 163; 15 USC 1671.)
Sec. 302. For the purposes of this title:
(a) The term “earnings” means compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary,
commission, bonus, or otherwise, and includes periodic payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program.
(b) The term “disposable earnings” means that part of the earnings of any individual remaining after the deduction from those
earnings of any amounts required by law to be withheld.
(c) The term “garnishment” means any legal or equitable procedure through which the earnings of any individual are required to be
withheld for payment of any debt.
(82 Stat. 163; 15 USC 1672)
Sec 303. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and in section 305, the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an
individual for any workweek which is subjected to garnishment may not exceed
(1) 25 per centum of his disposable earnings for that week, or
(2) the amount by which his disposable earnings for that week exceed thirty times the Federal minimum hourly wage prescribed by
section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 in effect at the time the earnings are payable, whichever is less. In the case of
earnings for any pay period other than a week, the Secretary of Labor shall by regulation prescribe a multiple of the Federal minimum
hourly wage equivalent in effect to that set forth in paragraph (2).
(b) The restrictions of subsection (a) do not apply in the case of
(1) any order of any court for the support of any person.
(2) any order of any court of bankruptcy under chapter XIII of the Bankruptcy Act.
(3) any debt due for any State or Federal tax
(c) No court of the United States or any State may make, execute, or enforce any order or process in violation of this section. (82
Stat. 163; 15 USC 1673)
Sec 304. (a) No employer may discharge any employee by reason of the fact that his earnings have been subjected to
garnishment for any one indebtedness.
(b) Whoever willfully violates subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one
year, or both.
(82 Stat. 163; 15 USC 1674)
Sec 305. The Secretary of Labor may by regulation exempt from the provisions of section 303 (a) garnishments issued under the
laws of any State if he determines that the laws of the State provide restrictions on garnishments which are substantially similar to those
provided in section 303 (a).
(82 Stat. 164; 15 USC 1675)
Sec 306. The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, shall enforce the
provisions of this Title.
(82 Stat. 164; 15 USC 1676)
Sec 307. This title does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person from complying with, the laws of any State
(1) prohibiting garnishments or providing for more limited garnishments than are allowed under this title, or
(2) prohibiting the discharge of any employee by reason of the fact that his earnings have been subjected to garnishment for more
than one indebtedness.
(82 Stat. 164; 15 USC 1677.)
_____ Employer’s Copy
In the Circuit Court
for the Third Judicial Circuit
Madison County, Illinois
Plaintiff
vs.
Case #
Defendant’s Name & last 4 digits of Social Security Number
Employer
WAGE DEDUCTION ORDER
This cause coming to be heard upon the return of a Wage Deduction Summons served upon the employer and the
answer filed by the employer, a Wage Deduction Notice having been served upon the employee and the Court fully advised;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. That a lien is hereby imposed upon the non-exempt wages of , as of the date of the service
of the Wage Deduction summons in the amount of $ including court costs, interest to date and
credit for payments to date.
2. That is ordered to deduct 15% of the defendant’s non-exempt gross wages after
deduction for mandatory pension or retirement plans or where the spouse/child support deduction order, if any, leaves
funds up to 15% of the non-exempt gross wages, each pay period to be remitted to Plaintiff’s attorney (or Pro Se
creditor) at least monthly. No deductions may occur if Defendant’s net check is less than 45 times the federal
minimum wage.
3.
.
That a Wage Deduction judgment is hereby entered against Employer,
in the periodic sum ordered above each pay period in favor of Defendant
, for use of the Plaintiff,
4. That employer turn over to Plaintiff the withheld wages from the date of service of the wage deduction proceedings to
the date of this order, pursuant to the calculations set forth herein.
5. A lien obtained hereunder shall have priority over any subsequent lien obtained hereunder, except that liens for the
support of a spouse or dependent children shall have priority over all other liens obtained hereunder. Employer is
further directed to file an amended Answer with this Court and send a copy to the attorney for Plaintiff, informing the
Court as to spouse/child support deductions received after the entry of this order.
6. That this continuing Wage Deduction Order shall remain in effect until the judgment of $
plus
9% simple interest and costs of $ are paid in full, the Defendant ceases to be employed by the
employer, the employee files bankruptcy, or this Court enters an order modifying this order.
7. That any other liens or wage deduction proceedings (other than spouse/child support) shall be held and stacked in the
order received by the employer and take effect only upon conclusion of the Order.
8. That this Court retains jurisdiction of the parties hereto and subject matter hereof to amend this order upon any change
in circumstances.
DATE:
JUDGE
NAME:
ATTORNEY FOR:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT
FOR THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Plaintiff
vs.
Case #
Defendant’s Name & last 4 digits of Social Security Number
Employer
NON-WITHHOLDING WAGE DEDUCTION ORDER
This cause coming to be heard on the return of a Wage Deduction Summons, the Court finding:
The employer has failed to file an Answer after service of the Wage Deduction Summons
The employer has filed an Answer showing no funds available to the judgment creditor due to non-
employment or bankruptcy of the judgment debtor
The employer has filed an Answer of no funds due to the employee’s insufficient income or prior
support or Wage Deduction Orders
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
That a Conditional Judgment is entered against the employer,
in favor of defendant,
, for us by plaintiff
,
in the sum of $
.
That these Wage Deduction proceedings are hereby continued to , 20___
for further hearing as to:
Status of current deduction orders.
OTHER .
That this Wage Deduction proceeding shall continue in full force and effect even though it
may be subordinate to prior proceedings and no funds are being held at this time.
DATE
JUDGE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT
FOR THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
CERTIFICATION OF JUDGMENT BALANCE
Employer Name:
Address:
City, State:
RE: Creditor:
Defendant:
Case No.
Balance Due at End of Last Quarter:
Pursuant to the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, Section 12/808.5, the undersigned hereby certifies that the above-stated
amount is the balance due on the judgment as of the last day of the last calendar quarter.
Please note that the law requires the employer to hand deliver or mail by First Class Mail, a copy of this certification to the
judgment debtor at the judgment debtor’s last known address.
Attorney for Judgment Creditor or Pro Se Creditor
Employer copy