How Much Does Garnishment Cost in Georgia?

Garnishment Is Not Free — Plan for the Costs

You won a judgment in Georgia Magistrate Court and now you want to garnish the debtor's wages or bank account. The court does not do this for you at no charge. Every garnishment action requires filing fees, service fees, and sometimes additional costs depending on the county and the type of garnishment. Budget for those expenses up front; do not assume every out-of-pocket charge can automatically be added to the debtor's balance.

Here is what the fees actually look like.

Court Filing Fees

The first cost is the garnishment filing fee paid to the clerk of court where you file the garnishment action. In Magistrate Court, this typically runs between $51 and $60, though the amount varies by county.

Some specific examples from Georgia counties:

• DeKalb County: $54 garnishment filing fee at the Magistrate Court level. A DeKalb State Court garnishment option is listed at $222.
• Jeff Davis County: $92.50 for a garnishment filing.
• Liberty County: $106 for a garnishment filing.
• Fulton County: A $60 baseline claim filing is listed, with a separate Marshal service fee and any applicable electronic payment convenience fee. Confirm the fee for the specific garnishment filing.

The filing amount depends on the court and county. A garnishment filed outside the court that issued the judgment may be docketed as a separate post-judgment proceeding, so check the receiving court's fee schedule before filing.

Service Fees

After filing, the garnishment summons must be formally served on the garnishee (the employer or bank). Georgia law requires service by a sheriff, county marshal, deputy, constable, or certified process server (O.C.G.A. § 18-4-8(a)).

Service fees vary by county and who performs the service:

• Sheriff service: $13 to $50 per party, depending on the county.
• Fulton County Marshal: Around $50 per service.
• DeKalb County Marshal: Around $35 per garnishee served.
• Private process server: Fees are set by the provider; request a quote before arranging service.

You also need to serve the debtor with notice within three business days of serving the garnishee (O.C.G.A. § 18-4-8(b)(1)). If you use certified mail plus first-class mail for the debtor's copy, add postage at current postal rates. If you use personal service on the debtor too, that is another service fee.

The Writ of Fi. Fa. — A Separate Cost

The Writ of Fieri Facias is a separate execution instrument. Its issuance fee is $4. If you also record it on the General Execution Docket at the Superior Court to create a lien on real property, that is an additional $25 recording fee.

If you pursue both a Fi. Fa. and a garnishment, budget those expenses separately; the Fi. Fa. issuance does not replace the garnishment filing.

Total Cost Estimate

For a typical continuing wage garnishment filed in the same Magistrate Court that issued your judgment:

For a bank garnishment, filing and service fees depend on the court and county. The bank's answer window is 5 to 15 days instead of 30 to 45 for an employer's first answer.

If you file in a different county's court because venue lies there, check that court's fee schedule before filing. Examples in Georgia include $92.50 in Jeff Davis County, $106 in Liberty County, and $222 for the DeKalb State Court option.

Interest Accrues; Expense Recovery Depends on the Rules

Under O.C.G.A. § 7-4-12, post-judgment interest generally accrues at the Federal Reserve prime rate on the judgment-entry date plus 3 percentage points, fixed for the judgment; a written contract may specify a different rate. Whether a filing, service, or mailing expense may be added to the collectible balance depends on the applicable law and court; keep receipts and confirm before including it.

That said, if the debtor's income is below the protected floor ($217.50 per week in disposable earnings), the wage garnishment collects nothing regardless of what you spent to file it. Run post-judgment interrogatories first to confirm the debtor has garnishable income before investing in the garnishment filing.

Planning the Cost-Benefit Math

The Georgia judgment collection guide walks through each enforcement tool in cost order — starting with the $10 post-judgment interrogatories and the $4 Fi. Fa. before moving to the more expensive garnishment and levy options. When you know what each step costs upfront, you can make a rational decision about whether enforcement is worth pursuing on your particular judgment balance.

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