Alaska Wage Garnishment After a Small Claims Judgment

Wage garnishment is one of the most effective collection tools in Alaska because it creates a continuing payment stream — the employer withholds money from every paycheck for 60 days straight, and you do not have to chase individual payments. But the paperwork has to be precise, or the employer will not withhold anything.

What You Need Before You Start

Three things must be true before you file for wage garnishment:

1. The 48-hour post-judgment stay has expired (or you have a default judgment, which skips the wait).
2. You know the debtor's employer — name, address, and ideally the payroll department contact.
3. You have the current judgment balance calculated, including any accrued post-judgment interest at 6.75% (the 2026 rate under AS 09.30.070).

If you do not know where the debtor works, a debtor examination (Form CIV-540) can compel them to disclose their employer under oath.

The Garnishment Packet: Forms and Fees

The wage garnishment packet includes these forms:

• CIV-507 — Information for Issuance of Writ of Execution on Garnishment of Earnings. This is your application telling the clerk the case details and the employer's information.
• CIV-526 — Employer's Response. The employer fills this out to report the debtor's earnings and withholdings.
• CIV-561 — Instructions to Process Server for Serving Writ for Garnishment. Tells the server where to deliver the papers.
• CIV-530 — Notice of Garnishment and Right to Exemptions. Goes to the debtor.
• CIV-531 — Claim of Exemption from Garnishment. Included for the debtor in case they want to claim protected income.

The court clerk reviews your packet, then electronically generates CIV-525 (Writ of Execution for Garnishment of Earnings). You pay the $25 writ issuance fee and hand everything to a licensed process server or Alaska State Troopers Judicial Services.

How Much Can Be Garnished

The garnishable amount is the lesser of two federal and state calculations:

Federal limit (CCPA): the smaller of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage).

Alaska limit (AS 09.38.030): Alaska's own protective floor, adjusted periodically under 8 AAC 95.030.

Whichever formula leaves more money in the debtor's pocket controls. For someone earning $800 per week in disposable income, the garnishable amount is $200 (25% of $800, since that is less than $800 minus $217.50).

The 60-Day Execution Window

Once served, the garnishment writ stays active for 60 continuous days. The employer must calculate the nonexempt portion each pay period, withhold those funds, complete Form CIV-526, and remit the money to the court or executing officer.

After 60 days, the writ expires. If the judgment is not yet satisfied, you file a new packet and pay another $25 fee. The good news: those costs get added to what the debtor owes.

What If the Debtor Claims an Exemption

The debtor has 15 days after receiving notice to file Form CIV-531 claiming an exemption. For example, they may claim the increased exemption if their earnings alone support their household. You get 10 days to respond, and the court decides the claim based on the information submitted or schedules a hearing.

Practical Tips

• Serve on a Monday if possible — the 60-day clock starts immediately, and you want to catch full pay periods.
• Include a second copy of CIV-526 so the employer can keep one for their records.
• Track every payment the employer remits. Apply each one first to execution costs, then to accrued interest, then to principal.

The Alaska Judgment Collection Guide includes a payment-and-interest ledger worksheet that handles the allocation math automatically.

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