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

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026

In Wisconsin:

Claim an exemption after a garnishment or bank levy
Bank account (non-earnings garnishment): fill out the Debtor's Answer Non-Earnings Garnishment Small Claims (SC-303) if your money is fully or partly exempt, and file it by the date and time on the…
How much of your pay can be taken
At least 80% of your disposable earnings are protected; the most that can be taken is 20%, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly 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 Wisconsin →

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

Build your plan

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 Wisconsin

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

    Wisconsin: Bank account (non-earnings garnishment): fill out the Debtor's Answer Non-Earnings Garnishment Small Claims (SC-303) if your money is fully or partly exempt, and file it…

    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

    Wisconsin: At least 80% of your disposable earnings are protected; the most that can be taken is 20%, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is…

    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.

    Wisconsin: A docketed judgment is a lien on your real estate in that county for 10 years.

    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 Wisconsin:

Bank account (non-earnings garnishment): fill out the Debtor's Answer Non-Earnings Garnishment Small Claims (SC-303) if your money is fully or partly exempt, and file it by the date and time on the garnishment summons or bring it to the hearing listed there. Send copies to the creditor (or its lawyer) and the bank. If the creditor objects, go to the hearing; the court decides. Wages: you must be served the Earnings Garnishment - Exemption Notice (CV-423), a blank Debtor's Answer (CV-424), the Garnishment Exemption Worksheet (CV-426) and the poverty guidelines (CV-427). If you qualify for a full or partial exemption, give or mail a copy of the completed Debtor's Answer to your employer. If your situation changes while the garnishment is in effect, you may file a new answer at any time. If the creditor objects, the court decides.

Law: Wis. Stat. §§ 812.34, 812.37, 812.44(4) (as cited on CV-423); court guide SC-6071V · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin:

At least 80% of your disposable earnings are protected; the most that can be taken is 20%, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is less. Your earnings are fully protected if your household income is below the federal poverty level, or if you get (or in the last 6 months got, or are eligible for) certain public benefits (Wis. Stat. § 812.34, forms CV-423 and CV-426). A garnishment lasts 13 weeks unless you agree in writing to extend it.

Law: Wis. Stat. §§ 812.34, 812.37, 812.44(4) (as cited on CV-423); court guide SC-6071V · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Wisconsin

Freezing a bank account

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

In Wisconsin:

A creditor can use a non-earnings garnishment to reach money a bank holds for you. The creditor must have a sheriff or private process server serve you with the garnishment papers. After a small claims judgment, the court orders you to complete a Financial Disclosure Statement (SC-506B) and send it to the creditor within 15 days unless you have paid.

Law: Wis. Stat. §§ 812.34, 812.37, 812.44(4) (as cited on CV-423); court guide SC-6071V · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Wisconsin

How long the judgment lasts

General rule: see state

In Wisconsin:

A docketed judgment is a lien on your real estate in that county for 10 years.

Law: Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8) (2011 Act 69); court guides SC-6060V, SC-6090V · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Wisconsin

Interest on the judgment

General rule: see state

In Wisconsin:

1% plus the prime rate in effect on January 1 (for judgments entered January-June) or July 1 (for judgments entered July-December), fixed for the life of the judgment. For 2026 the rate is 7.75%.

Law: Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8) (2011 Act 69); court guides SC-6060V, SC-6090V · checked Oct 2026 · Official source · From Debt Suit Map: Wisconsin

Key facts for Wisconsin

Debt Suit Map

Time to answer a debt lawsuit
Date on your summons
Shortest time to ask to cancel a default judgment
12 months
Official answer form
Yes, the court has one
How long a judgment lasts
10 years

Debt Suit Map: Wisconsin · checked Oct 2026

Debt Collector Map

Wage garnishment limit
Up to 20%
State license for collectors
Yes

Debt Collector Map: Wisconsin · 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 Wisconsin: what is the rule?

Bank account (non-earnings garnishment): fill out the Debtor's Answer Non-Earnings Garnishment Small Claims (SC-303) if your money is fully or partly exempt, and file it by the date and time on the garnishment summons or bring it to the hearing listed there. Send copies to the creditor (or its lawyer) and the bank. If the creditor objects, go to the hearing; the court decides. Wages: you must be served the Earnings Garnishment - Exemption Notice (CV-423), a blank Debtor's Answer (CV-424), the Garnishment Exemption Worksheet (CV-426) and the poverty guidelines (CV-427). If you qualify for a full or partial exemption, give or mail a copy of the completed Debtor's Answer to your employer. If your situation changes while the garnishment is in effect, you may file a new answer at any time. If the creditor objects, the court decides. (Wis. Stat. §§ 812.34, 812.37, 812.44(4) (as cited on CV-423); court guide SC-6071V)

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

At least 80% of your disposable earnings are protected; the most that can be taken is 20%, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is less. Your earnings are fully protected if your household income is below the federal poverty level, or if you get (or in the last 6 months got, or are eligible for) certain public benefits (Wis. Stat. § 812.34, forms CV-423 and CV-426). A garnishment lasts 13 weeks unless you agree in writing to extend it. (Wis. Stat. §§ 812.34, 812.37, 812.44(4) (as cited on CV-423); court guide SC-6071V)

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

A creditor can use a non-earnings garnishment to reach money a bank holds for you. The creditor must have a sheriff or private process server serve you with the garnishment papers. After a small claims judgment, the court orders you to complete a Financial Disclosure Statement (SC-506B) and send it to the creditor within 15 days unless you have paid. (Wis. Stat. §§ 812.34, 812.37, 812.44(4) (as cited on CV-423); court guide SC-6071V)

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

A docketed judgment is a lien on your real estate in that county for 10 years. (Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8) (2011 Act 69); court guides SC-6060V, SC-6090V)

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

1% plus the prime rate in effect on January 1 (for judgments entered January-June) or July 1 (for judgments entered July-December), fixed for the life of the judgment. For 2026 the rate is 7.75%. (Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8) (2011 Act 69); court guides SC-6060V, SC-6090V)

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.