Service of an earnings withholding order creates a lien upon the earnings of the judgment debtor that are required to be withheld pursuant to the order and upon all property of the employer subject to the enforcement of a money judgment in the amount required to be withheld pursuant to such order. The lien continues for a period of one year from the date the earnings of the judgment debtor become payable unless the amount required to be withheld pursuant to the order is paid as required by law.
§ 706.029.Lien Upon Earning Created By Service of Withholding Order
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 5. Wage Garnishment · Article 2. General Provisions · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 706.029 creates a lien, arising the moment an earnings withholding order is served, on the earnings the order requires the employer to withhold and on the employer's own property subject to money judgments, lasting one year from when those earnings become payable unless paid as the law requires.
Full Text of § 706.029
Plain-English Summary
Service of the earnings withholding order does more than start the withholding clock — it also creates a lien. That lien attaches to two things: the specific earnings of the judgment debtor that the order requires withheld, and, as security, all of the employer's own property that would be subject to enforcing a money judgment, up to the amount required to be withheld.
The lien isn't permanent. It lasts for one year from the date the judgment debtor's earnings become payable, unless the amount the order requires is paid as the law requires before then. That one-year window gives the creditor a real security interest without leaving the employer's assets exposed indefinitely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lien does serving an earnings withholding order create?
A lien on the employee's earnings required to be withheld, and on the employer's own property subject to money-judgment enforcement, up to the amount required to be withheld.
How long does that lien last?
One year from the date the earnings become payable, unless the required amount is paid before then.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1364, Sec. 2. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1364.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: lien created by earnings withholding order california