Judgment against me for a debt in Missouri: what to do

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026

In Missouri:

Claim an exemption after a garnishment or bank levy
File a verified (sworn) claim of exemption with the court and serve a copy on the creditor within 20 days after you are served with the notice of garnishment.
How much of your pay can be taken
For most people the federal limit applies (25% of take-home pay, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less).
Do this now
Get a copy of the judgment from the court clerk, and note the date, the amount, any interest and costs, and the creditor's lawyer.

Make this letter for Missouri →

General legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm.

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Choose your state and answer 3 quick questions. The plan below changes as you answer: steps that don't fit your answers are hidden, and your state's deadlines appear. Your answers stay in the page address.

Your plan for Missouri

Do now

  1. Get a copy of the judgment from the court clerk, and note the date, the amount, any interest and costs, and the creditor's lawyer.

    Why: These show how much you owe now and when each deadline starts.

  2. If you didn't answer because you never got the papers or had a good reason, see the default judgment plan: there is a short deadline to ask the court to set it aside.

    Why: If the judgment is set aside, the case reopens and you can defend it.

  3. If you went to court and lost, ask the clerk right away about the deadline to appeal or to ask for a new trial.

    Why: These deadlines are short and count from the date of the judgment.

  4. If you agreed to the judgment, read the agreement again for the payment terms and what happens if a payment is late.

    Why: A judgment, even an agreed one, is a court order the creditor can enforce under its terms.

  5. Check your state's deadline to claim an exemption, and the deadline on the garnishment or levy notice, and mark it.

    Claim an exemption after a garnishment or bank levy

    Missouri: File a verified (sworn) claim of exemption with the court and serve a copy on the creditor within 20 days after you are served with the notice of garnishment.

    Why: If you miss it, money the law protects can be paid to the creditor.

This week

  1. Read your state's rules below on wage garnishment, bank levies and exemptions.

    How much of your pay can be taken

    Missouri: For most people the federal limit applies (25% of take-home pay, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less).

    Why: For an ordinary debt, federal law lets a creditor take at most 25% of your take-home pay, or the part above 30 times the federal minimum wage if that is less, and many states protect more.

  2. File the claim of exemption with the court or officer named on the garnishment papers; see the wage garnishment plan.

    Why: You can ask to keep pay you need to support yourself and your family.

  3. File the claim of exemption for the money in the frozen account that the law protects; see the bank levy plan.

    Why: Exempt money must be released, but often only after you claim it.

  4. Tell your bank and the court that the account receives federal benefits. The bank must protect two months of directly deposited federal benefits automatically, and you can claim other protected benefit money.

    Why: Federal rules make banks protect up to two months of directly deposited federal benefits, and Social Security can't be garnished by a private creditor.

  5. If you can pay something, contact the creditor's lawyer about a payment plan or a lump-sum settlement, and get the agreement in writing before you pay.

    Why: A written agreement can stop or avoid a garnishment and proves what you agreed to.

If it's not resolved

  1. Keep records of every payment and every amount taken, and ask for a written payoff amount.

    Why: So you know when the judgment is paid and collection must stop.

  2. Note how long the judgment lasts in your state and whether it can be renewed.

    Missouri: A judgment is presumed paid 10 years after it was entered, after the last recorded payment, or after it was revived.

    Why: A judgment may not go away on its own; creditors can often renew it.

  3. When the judgment is paid in full, ask the creditor's lawyer for written proof and ask the clerk how the court records that the judgment is paid.

    Why: The court record should show the debt is paid, so it doesn't come back later.

  4. If you have several judgments or can't cover basic needs, ask legal aid about bankruptcy.

    Why: A bankruptcy filing stops most garnishments and collection while the case is open.

Deadlines

Claim an exemption after a garnishment or bank levy

General rule: see state; the deadline is also printed on the notice

In Missouri:

File a verified (sworn) claim of exemption with the court and serve a copy on the creditor within 20 days after you are served with the notice of garnishment. If the creditor does not ask for court review within 20 days, the exempt funds must be released. If it objects, the court decides, with any hearing held within 30 days.

Law: Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 90.03(b)-(c); R. 90.035 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Missouri

How much of your pay can be taken

General rule: Federal: lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 x federal minimum wage per week; state may protect more

In Missouri:

For most people the federal limit applies (25% of take-home pay, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less). If you are the head of a family and a Missouri resident, no more than 10% can be taken (RSMo § 525.030(2)).

Law: Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 90.03(b)-(c); R. 90.035 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Missouri

Freezing a bank account

General rule: see state; two months of directly deposited federal benefits are protected automatically

In Missouri:

The creditor gets a writ of garnishment served on your bank by the sheriff. Within 5 days, both the creditor and the bank must send you a copy of the summons and writ. Missouri has no fixed dollar amount automatically protected in a bank account, but exempt funds (for example under RSMo §§ 513.430 and 513.440, or federal benefits protected by 31 C.F.R. Part 212) can be claimed. A head of family may claim $1,250 plus $350 per dependent child in other property, except 10% of wages (RSMo § 513.440).

Law: Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 90.03(b)-(c); R. 90.035 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Missouri

How long the judgment lasts

General rule: see state

In Missouri:

A judgment is presumed paid 10 years after it was entered, after the last recorded payment, or after it was revived. The creditor can revive it by a motion filed within 10 years after entry, the last payment of record, or the last revival; you get an order to show cause why it should not be revived.

Law: RSMo § 408.040.2; RSMo § 516.350.1; Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 74.09 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Missouri

Interest on the judgment

General rule: see state

In Missouri:

9% a year in non-tort cases such as debt suits, or the contract rate if the contract bears more than 9%, from the date of judgment until paid.

Law: RSMo § 408.040.2; RSMo § 516.350.1; Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 74.09 · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Missouri

Key facts for Missouri

Debt Suit Map

Time to answer a debt lawsuit
as few as 30 days
Shortest time to ask to cancel a default judgment
1 year
Official answer form
No official form found
How long a judgment lasts
10 years

Debt Suit Map: Missouri · checked Oct 2026

Debt Collector Map

Time limit to sue on a debt
10 years (written contract), 5 years (open account)
Wage garnishment limit
25% (federal limit); 10% for head of family
State license for collectors
No statewide license

Debt Collector Map: Missouri · checked Oct 2026

Documents to gather

  • A copy of the judgment
  • Garnishment or bank levy notices and any exemption claim form
  • Recent pay stubs
  • Bank statements showing federal benefit deposits
  • Proof of household expenses (rent, utilities, child care)
  • Records of every payment you made

Where to go

Costs

Filing a claim of exemption is often free; ask the clerk. While the judgment is unpaid, interest and collection costs can keep adding up, at the rate your state sets.

Talk to a lawyer if

  • You never knew about the lawsuit
  • More than the legal limit is being taken
  • You can't pay for rent or food
  • You have more than one judgment
  • The creditor is trying to take your home or car

Free help

Free civil legal aid for people with low income: find your local program through the Legal Services Corporation (lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/get-legal-help) or LawHelp.org (lawhelp.org). Many legal aid offices handle debt collection lawsuits, default judgments, garnishment and bankruptcy. Servicemembers can use their base legal (JAG) office. Some courts have free volunteer-lawyer programs or self-help centers for debt cases; ask the clerk.

Guides for your state

Guides for every state

Questions

Claim an exemption after a garnishment or bank levy in Missouri: what is the rule?

File a verified (sworn) claim of exemption with the court and serve a copy on the creditor within 20 days after you are served with the notice of garnishment. If the creditor does not ask for court review within 20 days, the exempt funds must be released. If it objects, the court decides, with any hearing held within 30 days. (Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 90.03(b)-(c); R. 90.035)

How much of your pay can be taken in Missouri: what is the rule?

For most people the federal limit applies (25% of take-home pay, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less). If you are the head of a family and a Missouri resident, no more than 10% can be taken (RSMo § 525.030(2)). (Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 90.03(b)-(c); R. 90.035)

Freezing a bank account in Missouri: what is the rule?

The creditor gets a writ of garnishment served on your bank by the sheriff. Within 5 days, both the creditor and the bank must send you a copy of the summons and writ. Missouri has no fixed dollar amount automatically protected in a bank account, but exempt funds (for example under RSMo §§ 513.430 and 513.440, or federal benefits protected by 31 C.F.R. Part 212) can be claimed. A head of family may claim $1,250 plus $350 per dependent child in other property, except 10% of wages (RSMo § 513.440). (Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 90.03(b)-(c); R. 90.035)

How long the judgment lasts in Missouri: what is the rule?

A judgment is presumed paid 10 years after it was entered, after the last recorded payment, or after it was revived. The creditor can revive it by a motion filed within 10 years after entry, the last payment of record, or the last revival; you get an order to show cause why it should not be revived. (RSMo § 408.040.2; RSMo § 516.350.1; Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 74.09)

Interest on the judgment in Missouri: what is the rule?

9% a year in non-tort cases such as debt suits, or the contract rate if the contract bears more than 9%, from the date of judgment until paid. (RSMo § 408.040.2; RSMo § 516.350.1; Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 74.09)

When should I talk to a lawyer?

You never knew about the lawsuit; More than the legal limit is being taken; You can't pay for rent or food; You have more than one judgment; The creditor is trying to take your home or car.

How much does it cost?

Filing a claim of exemption is often free; ask the clerk. While the judgment is unpaid, interest and collection costs can keep adding up, at the rate your state sets.

Plans by state

Open the plan with one state's rules filled in:

Sources

Plan checked Oct 2026. Independently fact-checked 2026-10-25.

This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case. How we research.