Won Your Eviction But
Still Waiting to Get Paid?

Illinois law limits wage garnishment to the lesser of 15% of gross wages OR the amount exceeding 45 times the state minimum wage per week. For most employed debtors, this means a meaningful amount comes out of every paycheck until your judgment (plus interest) is satisfied. Judgments under $25,000 accrue 5% annual interest; over $25,000 accrue 9%.

That's what the Citation to Discover Assets is for. We bring them to court under oath. They must truthfully answer questions about their employment, bank accounts, vehicles, and other assets. Lying is perjury. Failing to appear leads to contempt of court — which can result in a body attachment (arrest warrant). Most people show up and tell the truth.

If the debtor fails to appear after being properly served, we can ask the court for a rule to show cause and ultimately a body attachment — an arrest warrant. When they're picked up, they're brought before the judge to answer questions. This gets their attention. Most debtors prefer to cooperate rather than risk arrest.

The garnishment continues until your judgment plus accrued interest is fully satisfied. The employer deducts from each paycheck and sends payment to you. We provide the employer with a Certificate of Judgment Balance every three months so they know when to stop. For a $10,000 judgment, garnishment might take 1-3 years depending on the debtor's income.

Yes, filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that immediately stops garnishment. However, most judgment debtors don't file bankruptcy — it's expensive, damages their credit for years, and requires disclosing all assets. The threat of ongoing garnishment often motivates them to negotiate a lump-sum settlement instead.

People rarely quit jobs to avoid garnishment — they need income to live. If they change employers, we can serve a new citation to discover their new employment and garnish that employer. The judgment doesn't go away. It's valid for 7 years and can be renewed. We can pursue them as long as the judgment exists.

Yes. As long as you have a valid Illinois money judgment from Cook County or DuPage County, we can help you collect — regardless of who represented you in the underlying case. Just bring us a copy of the judgment and we'll take it from there.

Some debtors are genuinely judgment-proof — no wages to garnish, no bank accounts to levy. In these cases, collection may not be practical right now. However, circumstances change. Your judgment is valid for 7 years (renewable for another 7). If they get a job or open a bank account later, we can pursue collection then. We'll give you an honest assessment during your consultation.