🔔 Pennsylvania Wage Garnishment Laws & Collection Guide ()
📍 Collecting a judgment in Pennsylvania? Wage garnishment in the Keystone State is extremely limited. Pennsylvania does NOT allow wage garnishment for most consumer debts – only for specific debts like child support, taxes, and student loans. This guide covers what you need to know as part of your Pennsylvania judgment collection strategy.
⚖️ What Is Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania severely restricts wage garnishment for consumer debts. Like Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina, Pennsylvania does NOT allow wage garnishment for most consumer judgments.
For creditors working on how to collect a judgment, alternative collection methods are essential. Our skip tracing services help locate debtors and assets.
⚠️ Critical Warning: Pennsylvania does NOT allow wage garnishment for consumer debts! You must use alternative methods like bank levies, property liens, and asset seizure.
💡 Key Point: PA judgments last only 4 years (can be renewed for 5 more). Act quickly and focus on bank accounts and property!
🏛️ What CAN Be Garnished
- Child Support/Alimony – Up to 50-65% of disposable earnings
- Tax Levies – PA DOR and IRS have garnishment powers
- Student Loans – Federal administrative wage garnishment
- Restitution – Criminal restitution orders
- Consumer Debt – NOT ALLOWED for regular judgments
💰 Alternative Collection Methods
Since wage garnishment isn’t available for consumer debts, focus on these alternatives:
🏦 Bank Levies: Attach debtor’s bank accounts
🏠 Property Liens: Lien on real estate
📋 Alternative Collection Options
| Method | Description | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 🏦 Bank Levy | Attach bank account funds | High if account found |
| 🏠 Judgment Lien | Lien against real property | Collects upon sale |
| 🚗 Asset Seizure | Sheriff’s levy on personal property | Varies by asset |
| 📋 Interrogatories | Written questions to discover assets | Reveals assets |
🔍 Need to Find a Debtor’s Assets in Pennsylvania?
Our asset search services locate bank accounts and property for levies.
Order Asset Search →📋 Steps to Collect in Pennsylvania
- Obtain a Money Judgment
Get a PA judgment or domesticate an out-of-state judgment.
- Locate Debtor and Assets
Our Pennsylvania skip tracing finds debtors and assets.
- Record Judgment Lien
File judgment in county Prothonotary’s office for property lien.
- Issue Bank Execution
File writ of execution to levy bank accounts.
- Serve Interrogatories
Written questions to discover assets.
- Pursue Non-Wage Assets
Seize eligible property and bank funds.
- Renew Judgment
PA judgments last 4 years – renew before expiration!
🔍 Skip Tracing in Pennsylvania
🏙️ Pennsylvania Coverage
- Philadelphia – State’s largest city
- Pittsburgh – Western PA
- Allentown – Lehigh Valley
- Harrisburg – State capital
- Erie – Northwest PA
🎯 Pennsylvania Debtor Hiding Assets?
20+ years helping creditors locate judgment debtors and assets throughout Pennsylvania.
Start Your Search →🛡️ Debtor Protections
- No consumer wage garnishment – One of few states with this protection
- $300 property exemption
- Exempt income – Social Security, SSI, veterans benefits
📍 Our Pennsylvania Services
🔍 Skip Tracing
💼 Asset Research
📞 Ready to Collect Your Pennsylvania Judgment?
Get Started Today →❓ FAQs
No – Pennsylvania does NOT allow wage garnishment for consumer debts. Use bank levies, property liens, and asset seizure instead.
4 years initially, renewable for 5 additional years. Act quickly!
