Wage & Bank Account Garnishment
Garnishment intercepts money on its way to the debtor: a slice of every paycheque, the balance of a bank account, or a receivable owed by the debtor's own customer. For most judgment creditors it is the fastest route from judgment to money — when it is aimed at the right target.
What can be garnished
Wages (subject to statutory exemptions protecting part of the debtor's income), bank accounts held in the debtor's name, and debts owed to the debtor by third parties — including a contractor's receivables from a general contractor, a trucker's payments from a broker, or a consultant's fees from a client. Joint accounts and exempt income sources add complexity that we navigate case by case.
Finding the employer and the bank
Garnishment paperwork is straightforward; knowing where to send it is the hard part. Examination hearings and payment hearings compel the debtor to disclose their employer and banking under oath, and investigative techniques often locate them without the debtor's cooperation.
When garnishment is the wrong tool
Self-employed debtors with no steady receivables, debtors paid in cash, or debtors whose accounts hold only exempt income call for different tactics: writs against property, seizure of vehicles or equipment, or simply the pressure of a registered judgment. Strategy beats process — always.
How We Help With This
Common Questions
How much of a debtor's wages can I garnish?
In Ontario, up to 20% of net wages for ordinary debts (more for support orders); courts can adjust the percentage either way. BC applies exemptions that protect a base amount of income. Either way, a garnishment that runs for months adds up.
Can I garnish a bank account without knowing the branch?
Practice varies — serving the right institution matters, and in many cases service on the bank captures accounts across branches. Identifying where the debtor banks is a routine part of our enforcement investigation.
The debtor is self-employed. Is garnishment useless?
No — it just changes the target. Self-employed debtors have customers, and those customers owe money that can be garnished. Intercepting a contractor's draw from a general contractor is frequently more effective than chasing wages.
Where We Handle These Disputes
Representation across Ontario and British Columbia — virtually and in person.
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