District of Columbia Motion to Exempt Wages from Garnishment
District of Columbia Motion to Exempt Wages from Garnishment
Before filing: This motion asks the Superior Court to protect additional wages because the ordinary attachment amount causes undue financial hardship under D.C. Code § 16-572.01. If the clerk offers the court's hardship form, use it or attach this statement as the court directs. Include the existing writ and recent proof of wages, benefits, household income, and expenses. The statute calls for a hearing after filing.
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Division: [DIVISION] Case number: [NUMBER]
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| [JUDGMENT CREDITOR] | Judgment creditor |
| v. | |
| [JUDGMENT DEBTOR] | Judgment debtor |
Motion to exempt additional wages for undue financial hardship
I, [JUDGMENT DEBTOR], move under D.C. Code § 16-572.01 for a hearing and an order exempting additional disposable wages from the wage attachment in this case.
- Attachment. The writ was issued on [DATE] and served on [EMPLOYER-GARNISHEE] on [DATE]. The employer withholds about $[AMOUNT] from each [WEEK/OTHER PAY PERIOD]. My disposable wages for that period are about $[AMOUNT]. I attach the writ and recent pay records.
- Household. [NUMBER] people live in my household, including [NUMBER] people I support. Total household income is about $[AMOUNT] per [PERIOD] from [SOURCES]. I attach records for the amounts I can document.
- Public assistance. I receive ☐ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ☐ Program on Work, Employment, and Responsibility ☐ General Assistance for Children ☐ Supplemental Security Income ☐ Interim Disability Assistance ☐ Medicaid ☐ D.C. Healthcare Alliance or similar health benefits ☐ none of these. The program, dates, and proof are [DETAILS]. I ask the Court to apply the presumption of undue hardship in § 16-572.01(d)(1) if a listed program applies.
- Necessary expenses. Schedule A lists my household's current housing, utility, health, child care, food, education, transportation, clothing, child support, and other recurring expenses. They total $[AMOUNT] per [PERIOD]. The wage attachment leaves about $[AMOUNT] after the expenses shown. The hardship it causes is [EXPLAIN WITH SPECIFIC FACTS].
- Amount requested. I ask the Court to exempt at least $[AMOUNT] of disposable wages per [PAY PERIOD] from attachment, or another amount the evidence supports, and to modify the existing writ accordingly. My requested amount would leave $[AMOUNT] available for attachment per [PAY PERIOD].
I request a hearing under § 16-572.01(b) and an order stating the dollar amount of disposable wages exempt for each pay period and directing the employer-garnishee to follow the modified writ.
Signature: [SIGNATURE] Date: [__/__/____]
Printed name: [NAME]
Address, phone, and email: [CONTACT]
Schedule A — household expenses
| Expense | Amount per [PERIOD] | Supporting record |
|---|---|---|
| Housing and utilities | $[AMOUNT] | [RECORD] |
| Health and child care | $[AMOUNT] | [RECORD] |
| Food and household supplies | $[AMOUNT] | [RECORD] |
| Education and transportation | $[AMOUNT] | [RECORD] |
| Clothing and child support | $[AMOUNT] | [RECORD] |
| Other recurring need: [DESCRIBE] | $[AMOUNT] | [RECORD] |
| Total | $[AMOUNT] |
Delivery record
I sent a copy of this motion and attachments to [JUDGMENT CREDITOR OR COUNSEL, ADDRESS] on [DATE] by [METHOD].
Signature: [SIGNATURE] Date: [__/__/____]
Official sources
About this template
- Last updated
- October 27, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 27, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Litigation & Court Documents
Legal authority
- D.C. Code § 16-572 (ordinary wage attachment limit)
- D.C. Code § 16-572.01(a)-(d) (undue-financial-hardship exemption motion)
These are the filings that drive a lawsuit through the system: complaints, answers, motions, briefs, discovery requests and responses, and post-judgment papers. Each has its own format requirements under federal and state procedural rules, and each has a deadline that cannot be missed without consequences. Clean, procedurally correct filings move a case forward; sloppy ones invite motions to strike, amended responses, and avoidable delays.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 27, 2026.
D.C. Code § 16-572.01(a) (checked October 27, 2026): "a judgment debtor may seek to exempt additional wages from attachment under § 16-572 by making a claim of undue financial hardship by filing a motion with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia"
D.C. Code § 16-572.01(b) (checked October 27, 2026): "the court shall hold a hearing as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days after the motion is filed, unless the movant requests a later date"
D.C. Code § 16-572.01(c)-(d) (checked October 27, 2026): "the court shall determine whether the amount required to be paid to the judgment creditor as calculated pursuant to § 16-572 creates an undue financial hardship for the judgment debtor"
D.C. Code § 16-572(1)(A) (checked October 27, 2026): "the attachment shall become a lien and a continuing levy upon the gross wages due or to become due to the judgment debtor for the amount specified in the attachment"
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