Garnishment Support
Garnishment Support
GARNISHMENT SUPPORT
This office provides garnishment support to a majority of the school districts in Maricopa County.
Documents and Resources
Request for Hearing Use this form when requesting a hearing to dispute a garnishment.
District Responsibilities for Garnishments Information for school districts regarding their responsibilities when garnishments are handled by this office.
School District Garnishment Information Form Submit this form with information regarding new garnishments to be processed by this office.
Board Resolution Sample Sample governing board resolution giving The Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent the authority to process your garnishments.
Board Resolution Letter The County School Superintendent request for an updated governing board resolution.
Fillable Non Exempt Earning Statement Updated form for 2023
GARNISHMENT PROCESSING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I am a creditor. How do I submit a court order judgment for your district employees?
If the employee works for one of the 51 districts that Maricopa County Education Service Agency handles, please have your process server hand deliver it to:
Maricopa County Education Service Agency (Include the name of the specific School District)
4041 North Central Ave, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602.372.4833 - Option 3 (Garnishment Services)
Fax: 602.372.8589
I am a creditor. What school districts handle their own garnishments?
Seven school districts process their own garnishments. They are as follows:
Cave Creek Unified District #93
East Valley Institute of Technology District #401
Dysart Unified School District #89
Palo Verde Elementary District #49
Paradise Valley Unified District #69
Peoria Unified School District #11
Phoenix Union High School District #210
I am a creditor. I have a default student loan, bankruptcy order, Social Security Administration and/or a Tax Levy for the employee, how do I start the process of garnishments?
Please forward to the school district that the employee works. Once they received the garnishment and acknowledge your form that the employee is active for their district, they will forward me the documents to start the garnishment. If they are not employed or never work for the school district, they will return your acknowledgement document with the rest of the documents.
I am a creditor. Why did you not accept my court order Writ of Garnishment and Summons?
Maricopa County Education Service Agency may have not have accepted your Writ of Garnishment and Summons due to the following reasons:
Maricopa County Education Service Agency was not listed in the caption for garnishee.
The school district name and school district number is not correct in the caption for garnishee.
The Judgment was not attached with the Writ of Garnishment and Summons.
The garnishee instruction states to be attached to all documents needed for the garnishment (i.e. Writ of Garnishment and Summon and Judgment is not a complete garnishment.)
The Writ of Garnishment does not specify the employee who is being summons (i.e. John and Jane Smith are listed as debtor and are both listed as being summons. We need to know the exact employees who is summoned)
One of the seven school districts that we do not process garnishments for was served to Maricopa County Education Service Agency.
I am a creditor. Why can't my process server write the missing information in the caption for Garnishee?
A process server position is to acknowledge the acceptance of the Writ of Garnishment and Summons. Any information that needs to be changed is the responsibility of the creditor and/or creditor attorney and will need to be amended through the Courts. If it is not amended through the Courts, all correspondences such as Order of Continuing Lien, Quarterly Judgment Reports and/or Releases will not be sent to Maricopa County Education Service Agency.
I am a creditor. Why haven't I received funds that have been withheld?
It may be that Maricopa County Education Service Agency has not received the Order of Continuing Lien signed by the judge or there have been no earnings/low earnings for the employee who is being garnished. Another reason may be that the employee is a nine or ten month employee and does not receive any earnings during the summer session.
I am a creditor. Does Maricopa County keep the garnishment active during the summer?
If it is a Writ of garnishment, the account remains open for the 90 day period as per the garnishee's instructions. If there are no earnings or low earnings for 90 days, then the account will close. You will have to restart the process again. If you have a Defaulted Student Loan or Tax Levy, the account remains open until the garnishment is released.
I am a creditor. Can I verify employment?
Not with the Education Service Agency. Every school district handles their Human Resources and Payroll and the release of information. If a signed written release is required from the employee to verify employment, then you may have to supply the information. Our office can verify if an employee has an active garnishment.
I am an employee. I just received this packet regarding garnishment, what do I do?
Please read the following information concerning the effects of a garnishment and keep the documents for your records.
Please call the creditor agent if you have any questions concerning:
Making alternate payment arrangements.
Your garnishment liability and the amount owed.
Adjusting the amount due to show payments made other than from your wages.
Determining an ex-spouse's responsibility for a garnishment.
I am an employee. Does Maricopa County Education Service Agency have the authority to modify or release a garnishment?
Maricopa County Education Service Agency Garnishment Division has no authority to modify or release a garnishment. The creditor agent must make any decisions and adjustments for the plaintiff or the court. Any changes must be written and faxed to 602-372-8589 or emailed to garnishments@maricopa.gov.
I am an employee. Can I have direct deposit while on garnishments?
Beginning in FY19, garnished employees may continue using direct deposit while an active garnishment is in place.
I am an employee. When will I get my check?
There should be no delay in your regular pay day.
I am an employee. What is the cutoff to keep my full paycheck?
I am an employee. Why did I have a zero balance remaining on my check and now I am being garnished again?
The court order states that we must receive a Quarterly Creditor's Report, which verifies if there are any accrued fees and/or additional interest. If a balance remains, it must be added and continue the garnishment. It is the Creditor's responsibility to send you a copy of the same report we receive.
I am an employee. How much will be taken out of my check?
It varies on the type of garnishment. A Court order judgment can be up to 25%. A Defaulted Student Loan and/or a Social Security Administration can be up to 15%, unless otherwise noted. Federal and State tax levy’s have a set table that determine your exemptions. If you do have a tax levy and our office does not receive the exemption form, you are defaulted to Single and One Allowance (Currently $375.00 per pay).
I am an employee. What is the cutoff to keep my full paycheck?
If you complete your garnishment before Maricopa County Education Service Agency Garnishment Division starts garnishing your wages or make alternate payment arrangement with the garnishing agency, please obtain a written release of garnishment and send it immediately to the Maricopa County Education Service Agency. We MUST receive the release before your district processes payroll in order to release your check in full. It can be faxed to 602.372.8589 or email at garnishments@maricopa.gov
I am an employee. I have Child Support payments, Are these considered a deduction from my net pay?
Only court-ordered child support payments made through the Clearing House may be exempt from garnishment.
I am an employee. Is there any option to lower the amount being withheld from my check?
Yes. You have the option of calling the creditor and/or creditor attorney and make payments arrangements. If you are having financial hardship, you can discuss a reduction with the creditor to see if they will lower your amounts. If they are not willing to work with you, you have the option to go to court and see a judge.
I represent the school district. What is the process for a lost warrant of a garnished employee?
Please contact the finance desk (602-372-4833 option 2). Information about the lost warrant will be requested and your main payroll contact person will receive an Affidavit. Please have the employee sign and notarize the Affidavit. Return the Original Affidavit to our office which the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors must approve. Please be patient as it can take up to 3 weeks to get the Approved Affidavit allowing the reissuing of the lost warrant.
I represent the school district. I keep getting calls about employment verification, what is the procedure?
If your district does not require a signed written release from the employee, then you should go ahead and verify employment. If your district requires a signed written release, let the creditor know the policy and procedures for your district. If the creditor needs any other information, please forward them to our office for assistance.