How to Fill Out Michigan Form MC 32 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Michigan Form MC 32, the Garnishee Disclosure, is the sworn statement that a third party (called a garnishee) must complete and return after being served with a writ of garnishment, and it tells the court and the plaintiff what money or property — if any — the garnishee holds for the defendant. Banks, credit unions, employers, tenants, and even courts that hold deposits all use this single form when they receive a writ under Michigan Court Rule 3.101.

A garnishee that ignores MC 32 risks becoming personally liable for the entire underlying judgment, not just the funds it holds, because MCR 3.101(S) lets the plaintiff take a default judgment against any garnishee that fails to disclose. The Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) processes more than 400,000 garnishment filings each year, and disclosure errors are one of the top three reasons garnishees end up in default proceedings.

• 📋 What MC 32 is, who must file it, and the exact deadline that controls your response
• ✏️ Line-by-line instructions for every box, checkbox, and signature on the current SCAO form
• 👥 Three full walkthrough examples (a small employer, a bank, and a former-employer scenario)
• 💵 The fees, exemptions, and CCPA wage caps that drive the dollar amounts you write in
• ⚠️ The most common mistakes that turn a routine disclosure into a default judgment

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

Michigan Form MC 32 is the Garnishee Disclosure, an SCAO-approved court form authorized under MCL 600.4011 and governed procedurally by MCR 3.101. The form is the garnishee’s sworn answer to a writ of garnishment, and it tells the court whether the garnishee owes the defendant money, holds the defendant’s property, or controls wages payable to the defendant.

You must file MC 32 if you are served with either a periodic writ (Form MC 12, used for wages, rent, land contract payments, and other recurring income) or a non-periodic writ (Form MC 13, used for one-time funds like bank accounts and tax refunds). The most common garnishees are employers, banks, credit unions, brokerages, escrow agents, and the State of Michigan when a tax refund is intercepted under MCL 600.4061a.

The plain-English consequence of skipping MC 32 is severe: under MCR 3.101(S)(1), the plaintiff can request a default and then a default judgment for the full amount of the underlying judgment, plus costs. A small business that ignores a single $4,000 writ can end up owing the entire $40,000 judgment if it never returns MC 32.

A misconception worth correcting up front: many garnishees believe that if they hold no money for the defendant, they can throw the writ away. That is wrong. You must still file MC 32 and check the box that says you owe nothing. Silence is treated as a refusal to disclose, not as a “no.”

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gathering your paperwork before you open MC 32 is the single biggest predictor of a clean filing, because most rejected disclosures fail on data the garnishee never pulled together. The current SCAO revision of MC 32 is dated on the bottom-left corner of the form, and you should confirm you are using that revision before writing anything in the boxes.

Pull the following items together first:

• The writ of garnishment you were served with (MC 12 or MC 13). It contains the case number, court, plaintiff, defendant, and the writ’s effective date — the start of your 14-day clock under MCR 3.101(H). Without it, you cannot complete the caption.
• The defendant’s full legal name, last known address, and Social Security number or account identifier. A name mismatch is the #1 reason garnishees wrongly answer “no funds” when they actually hold the defendant’s account.
• The $6 garnishee fee check or proof of fee. The plaintiff must tender this with the writ under MCL 600.4012; if it was missing, note that on the form.
• Payroll records covering the pay period that includes the writ’s effective date. You need gross wages, statutory deductions, and net disposable earnings to compute the CCPA cap.
• Account statements as of the date of service. Banks need the precise ledger balance and any holds at the moment service was perfected.
• Any prior writs already on file against the same defendant. Michigan applies a first-in-time priority rule, and you must disclose any senior writ on the form.
• Any setoff or security interest you hold against the defendant. You may deduct these before paying anything to the plaintiff under MCR 3.101(G)(2).
• A bankruptcy check. If the defendant has filed bankruptcy, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 freezes the garnishment, and you must say so on MC 32.
• Your business’s legal name, address, FEIN, and the name of the person who will sign and verify the disclosure. The signer must have personal knowledge of the records.
• The plaintiff’s and defendant’s mailing addresses for service of the disclosure. You are required to mail copies under MCR 3.101(H)(2).

Missing any one of these items will either delay your response past the 14-day deadline or force you to amend the disclosure, which exposes you to a motion for show cause and additional costs.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official, current MC 32 lives on the Michigan Courts SCAO forms page; you can download a fillable PDF directly from the SCAO MC 32 page. Always pull the form fresh, because SCAO revises forms on a rolling basis, and an outdated revision date in the bottom-left corner can cause the clerk to reject your filing.

You can also obtain MC 32 in paper form at any Michigan district or circuit court clerk’s office, and many county prosecutor and Friend of the Court offices keep blank copies behind the counter. If you are an employer with a payroll service like ADP, Paychex, or Gusto, the service usually has the form pre-loaded, but you should still verify the revision date.

For e-filers, MC 32 is available inside MiFILE, the statewide e-filing portal operated by ImageSoft for the Michigan Supreme Court. MiFILE is mandatory in many circuit courts and optional in district courts; check your court’s local administrative order before mailing paper.

A common misconception is that you can use a garnishee’s “house” disclosure form (a bank’s internal answer letter, for example) instead of MC 32. Michigan courts will reject any non-SCAO substitute, because MCR 1.109(D) requires the SCAO-approved form when one exists. Use the official PDF.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Michigan Form MC 32 Line by Line

MC 32 is a two-sided form with a caption block at the top, a checkbox section that distinguishes periodic from non-periodic writs, a disclosure body, a verification, and a certificate of mailing. The walkthrough below covers every field in the order it appears on the SCAO PDF.

Court Name and Address (Top Caption)

This field asks you to identify the court that issued the writ. You copy the court name and address exactly as it appears on the writ (MC 12 or MC 13) you were served with, including the judicial district number for district courts.

For example, Maria Lopez, the payroll manager at a small bakery, copies 36th District Court, 421 Madison Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 into the top caption because that is the court printed on the writ.

A nuance: if the writ was issued by a circuit court, write Wayne County Circuit Court or 3rd Circuit Court — match the writ’s wording rather than guessing. The most common mistake is using the county instead of the court name, and the consequence is that the clerk will route your disclosure to the wrong file, where it can sit unnoticed until a default is taken.

A misconception worth fixing: garnishees sometimes assume the court address must match the defendant’s address. It does not — the court address is the court’s, period.

Court Telephone Number

The form asks for the court’s main filing line. You pull this from the writ or from the Michigan Courts directory.

Maria writes (313) 965-2200, the published number for the 36th District Court.

The edge case is multi-location courts; pick the courthouse that issued the writ, not the satellite location nearest you. The common mistake is writing your own business phone here, which causes return-call confusion. The misconception is that this field is optional — it is required on every SCAO civil form.

Case Number

This field asks for the unique court-assigned case number, formatted exactly as the writ shows it. Copy it character-for-character including suffixes like -GC, -CZ, or -NF.

Marcus Bell, a credit union branch manager, writes 2025-12345-GC because that is what appears in the case-number box on the MC 13 he received.

A nuance applies when you receive multiple writs against the same defendant: each writ has its own case number, and each requires its own MC 32. The most common mistake is dropping the suffix, which causes the clerk to misfile the disclosure under a different case type. The misconception is that the case number is the same as the defendant’s account number; they are unrelated.

Plaintiff’s Name and Address

This field asks for the creditor or judgment-holder pursuing the garnishment. Use the name and address printed in the writ’s plaintiff block, not any successor or collection agent unless the writ names them.

Marcus enters Midwest Capital Recovery LLC, 200 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48243.

The nuance is assigned debts: if the original creditor sold the debt, the plaintiff name is the assignee, and you must mail the disclosure to that party, not the original creditor. The common mistake is mailing the disclosure to the original creditor, which gives the plaintiff grounds to argue you failed to serve disclosure under MCR 3.101(H)(2). The misconception is that the plaintiff’s attorney is the plaintiff — they are not, but you mail the disclosure to the attorney if one is listed.

Plaintiff’s Attorney, Bar Number, Address, and Telephone

If an attorney signed the writ, copy the attorney’s name, P-bar number, firm address, and phone exactly. If the plaintiff is pro se, leave this block blank or write N/A.

Marcus writes Jennifer Ruiz (P67890), Ruiz Collections PLLC, 400 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226, (313) 555-4400.

The nuance is firm changes: use whatever is on the writ, even if you believe the attorney has moved firms, because that is the address of record. The mistake is leaving this blank when an attorney is listed; the consequence is improper service of the disclosure. The misconception is that you can substitute the firm’s general number — use the number on the writ.

Defendant’s Name and Address

This field asks for the judgment debtor whose money or property you may be holding. Match the writ exactly, including middle initial and any Jr., Sr., or III suffix.

Maria writes David A. Thompson, 1820 Trumbull St, Apt 3B, Detroit, MI 48216.

A critical nuance involves common names: if the writ says David Thompson but you have three David Thompsons on payroll, you must check additional identifiers (DOB, last four of SSN, address) and pick the one matching the writ before answering. The most common mistake is garnishing the wrong David Thompson; the consequence is personal liability to the misidentified employee for wrongful garnishment. The misconception is that the defendant must be a current employee — past wages owed still trigger disclosure.

Garnishee’s Name and Address

You enter your business’s full legal name and street address here, exactly as registered with LARA. Use the entity name, not a DBA, unless the DBA is your only registered name.

Maria’s employer enters Sweet Crumb Bakery LLC, 2233 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216.

The nuance is parent-subsidiary structures: name the entity that actually employs the defendant or holds the account, even if a parent company received the writ. The mistake is using a trade name only, which can void the disclosure if the entity is challenged. The misconception is that a P.O. Box is acceptable; courts require a physical street address for service purposes.

Date and Time the Writ Was Served on the Garnishee

This field anchors your 14-day clock under MCR 3.101(H). Write the exact date and time service was perfected on you, in MM/DD/YYYY and HH:MM AM/PM format.

Marcus writes 04/15/2026 and 10:42 AM because that is when the process server handed the writ to the credit union’s registered agent.

The nuance involves mailed service: if served by certified mail, the date is the date you signed the green card, not the postmark. The mistake is back-dating or guessing; the consequence is that an inaccurate service date can be used by either side to attack the timeliness of your disclosure. The misconception is that “service” means when the writ was issued — it means when you were served.

Periodic vs. Non-Periodic Garnishment Checkbox

MC 32 forces you to indicate whether the writ is periodic (recurring) or non-periodic (one-time). Check the box that matches the writ form number — MC 12 is periodic, MC 13 is non-periodic.

Maria checks the periodic box because Sweet Crumb received an MC 12 for David Thompson’s wages.

A nuance arises for tax-refund writs: those use Form MC 52 and a different disclosure (MC 14), so do not use MC 32 for state income-tax intercepts. The mistake is checking both boxes, which voids the disclosure. The misconception is that periodic means you pay periodically — it means the debt is periodic (recurring wages, rent, land contract payments).

Disclosure 1: “I am not indebted to defendant…”

This is the first substantive disclosure box. You check it only if, as of the date of service, you owe the defendant nothing and hold no property of the defendant.

Patricia Nguyen, an HR director at a manufacturing plant, checks this box because David Thompson was terminated three months before service and has no final paycheck pending.

The nuance: even small amounts (a $12 expense reimbursement) defeat this checkbox. The mistake is checking it when you owe an unpaid commission, vacation accrual, or expense check; the consequence is that the plaintiff can later prove the amount and seek personal liability. The misconception is that you can check it if you “do not think” you owe anything — you must be certain.

Disclosure 2: Periodic Payments Owed (Wages, Rent, Land Contract)

This box is for periodic writs. You report the gross periodic amount, the statutory deductions, the disposable earnings, and the withholding amount under the Consumer Credit Protection Act — generally the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage.

Maria writes gross weekly wages: $720.00; FICA, Medicare, federal/state withholding: $158.40; disposable earnings: $561.60; CCPA cap: $140.40 per week.

The nuance is multiple writs: if a senior writ already takes the full 25%, write $0 available and identify the senior writ by case number. The mistake is calculating the cap on gross wages instead of disposable earnings; the consequence is over-withholding, and the employee can sue you for the overage. The misconception is that you can withhold the entire judgment in one paycheck — federal law caps each paycheck.

Disclosure 3: Non-Periodic Funds or Property Held

This box is for MC 13 writs. You list each account or asset and the dollar amount held as of the moment of service, after subtracting any setoffs or security interests you hold under MCR 3.101(G)(2).

Marcus writes checking account #x1234, balance at 10:42 AM 04/15/2026: $2,847.13; setoff for overdraft loan: $312.00; net held: $2,535.13.

The nuance involves joint accounts: under Michigan case law, you disclose the full balance and let the non-debtor co-owner file an objection. The mistake is releasing funds before the 28-day objection window closes; the consequence is liability to the defendant if the funds turn out to be exempt. The misconception is that pending deposits “in transit” count — only collected, available funds at the moment of service count.

Disclosure 4: Statement That Garnishee Is or Was an Employer

If you are an employer, you must indicate whether the defendant is currently employed, was previously employed, or has never been employed by you. If previously employed, you give the last day worked.

Patricia checks previously employed and writes last day worked: 01/12/2026 for David Thompson.

The nuance is rehires: if the defendant was rehired within the writ’s 182-day life, you must disclose that and resume withholding. The mistake is checking not employed when the defendant is on unpaid leave — they are still employed. The misconception is that 1099 contractors are not “employees” for garnishment — periodic writs do reach independent contractors when the payments are recurring.

Disclosure 5: Setoffs, Defenses, and Counterclaims

This box lets you list any defenses you have to paying the plaintiff, including security interests, prior assignments, or pending bankruptcy stays under 11 U.S.C. § 362. Be specific.

Marcus writes Member filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy on 04/10/2026, Case No. 26-40987, E.D. Mich.; automatic stay applies; no funds will be released.

The nuance is post-petition wages: in Chapter 7, post-petition wages are not estate property and may still be garnished; in Chapter 13, they are. The mistake is assuming any bankruptcy filing freezes everything; the consequence is failing to withhold when you should. The misconception is that you must investigate bankruptcy claims yourself — you only disclose what you actually know.

Disclosure 6: Other Garnishments Already on File

You list any prior writs against the same defendant by case number and date served. Michigan applies a first-in-time, first-in-right priority for periodic writs.

Maria writes Prior writ: 36th District Court Case 2024-99887-GC, served 11/02/2024, currently active.

The nuance is child-support orders: an active Income Withholding for Support order takes priority over any commercial garnishment, and you note that here. The mistake is omitting senior writs; the consequence is that the senior creditor can sue you for misdirecting funds. The misconception is that all writs share the 25% cap — child support has its own higher cap (up to 65%).

Garnishee Fee

This box confirms whether the $6 garnishee fee under MCL 600.4012 was tendered with the writ. Check yes or no.

Maria checks yes and writes $6.00 received with writ on 04/15/2026.

The nuance: if the fee was missing, you may be excused from disclosing until it is paid, but the safer practice is to disclose anyway and note the missing fee. The mistake is releasing funds while keeping the fee — the fee is yours to keep regardless. The misconception is that the fee is $35 like federal forms — Michigan’s is $6.

Verification (Signature, Title, and Date)

The signer must have personal knowledge of the records and must sign under penalty of perjury. Print your name, title, and the date.

Maria Lopez, Payroll Manager, 04/22/2026 signs and dates the verification block.

The nuance is corporate signers: an officer, manager, or authorized agent must sign — not an outside attorney unless properly authorized. The mistake is signing without verifying the underlying records; the consequence is perjury exposure under MCL 750.423. The misconception is that a notary is required — MC 32 uses a verification, not a notarization.

Certificate of Mailing

The bottom of MC 32 confirms you mailed copies of the disclosure to the plaintiff (or attorney) and the defendant on the date filed. Enter the date, addresses, and your signature.

Marcus writes 04/22/2026 and lists both addresses, then signs.

The nuance is e-served plaintiffs: in MiFILE courts, electronic service satisfies the certificate, but you still complete the block. The mistake is filing without mailing; the consequence is that the disclosure is procedurally defective and can be struck. The misconception is that the court mails copies for you — it does not.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three full walkthroughs that show how three different garnishees complete MC 32 from top to bottom. Each scenario follows one named filer through the form.

Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, Small Employer, Periodic Wage Garnishment

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Court Name and Address	36th District Court, 421 Madison Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Case Number	2026-04567-GC
Plaintiff	Apex Receivables LLC, 100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Defendant	David A. Thompson, 1820 Trumbull St, Detroit, MI 48216
Garnishee	Sweet Crumb Bakery LLC, 2233 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
Service Date/Time	04/15/2026, 10:42 AM
Periodic/Non-Periodic	Periodic (MC 12)
Disclosure 2 — Wages	Gross weekly: $720.00; deductions: $158.40; disposable: $561.60; CCPA withholding: $140.40/week
Prior Writs	None
Verification	Maria Lopez, Payroll Manager, 04/22/2026

Scenario 2: Marcus Bell, Credit Union Branch Manager, Non-Periodic Bank Garnishment

Form Section	What Marcus Enters
Court Name and Address	3rd Circuit Court, 2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Case Number	2025-12345-CZ
Plaintiff	Midwest Capital Recovery LLC
Defendant	Linda K. Sato, 4400 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Garnishee	Great Lakes Federal Credit Union, 500 Griswold St, Detroit, MI 48226
Service Date/Time	04/15/2026, 10:42 AM
Periodic/Non-Periodic	Non-periodic (MC 13)
Disclosure 3 — Funds Held	Checking #x1234: $2,847.13; setoff for overdraft loan: $312.00; net held: $2,535.13
Setoffs/Defenses	Member filed Chapter 7 on 04/10/2026, Case 26-40987 E.D. Mich.; automatic stay applies
Verification	Marcus Bell, Branch Manager, 04/20/2026

Scenario 3: Patricia Nguyen, HR Director, Former Employee Scenario

Form Section	What Patricia Enters
Court Name and Address	15th District Court, 301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Case Number	2026-00789-GC
Plaintiff	Riverbend Medical Collections, Inc.
Defendant	Jamal R. Carter, 822 Packard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Garnishee	Huron Valley Manufacturing Inc., 1500 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Service Date/Time	04/16/2026, 2:15 PM
Periodic/Non-Periodic	Periodic (MC 12)
Disclosure 1 — Not Indebted	Checked — no wages owed
Disclosure 4 — Employment	Previously employed; last day worked 01/12/2026; no final wages, vacation, or commissions outstanding
Verification	Patricia Nguyen, HR Director, 04/23/2026

How to File the Completed Form

You must file MC 32 with the issuing court within 14 days of being served, under MCR 3.101(H)(1), and you must mail copies to the plaintiff (or attorney) and defendant the same day. Michigan accepts four filing channels.

By mail. Send the original signed MC 32 to the court clerk at the address on the writ. Use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt so you have proof of timely filing. There is no filing fee for the disclosure itself; the $6 garnishee fee was paid by the plaintiff with the writ. Processing is typically 3–5 business days. Keep your green card and a stamped copy as proof of filing.

In person. Walk the original to the clerk’s window during business hours. The clerk will time-stamp your copy on the spot. There is no fee. Same-day docketing is normal. Keep the time-stamped copy as proof.

By e-filing through MiFILE. Log into MiFILE, select the case, and upload your completed PDF. MiFILE charges a small system fee (currently around $8.00 per envelope plus a 3% credit-card surcharge). Acceptance is usually within 24 hours. Your acceptance email is your proof of filing.

By fax (limited courts). A small number of district courts still accept faxed disclosures under MCR 1.109(G) with prior arrangement. Call the clerk first. No fee in most courts. Fax confirmation receipt is your proof.

Whichever channel you use, you must separately mail copies to the plaintiff (or attorney) and the defendant on the date you file, and the certificate of mailing on MC 32 must reflect that date. The most common procedural defect is filing on time but mailing late, which lets the plaintiff move to strike the disclosure.

What Happens After You File

Once MC 32 is filed, the clerk dockets it and the plaintiff has 28 days to object under MCR 3.101(L), and the defendant has 14 days to file objections under MCR 3.101(K) using Form MC 49. During those windows, you must hold any disclosed funds — do not release them.

If no objection is filed, you forward the funds to the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney, keep a receipt, and apply any future periodic withholdings until the writ expires. A periodic writ is good for 182 days under MCR 3.101(B)(1), and a non-periodic writ is satisfied with the one-time payment.

If an objection is filed, the court will set a hearing within 21 days. You generally do not need to attend unless subpoenaed; the dispute is between plaintiff and defendant. Keep the funds frozen until the court enters an order telling you what to do.

A mini-scenario: when Linda Sato in Scenario 2 files an objection claiming the funds are exempt Social Security deposits under 42 U.S.C. § 407, the credit union must continue holding the $2,535.13 until the court rules. If the court agrees, the funds are released back to Linda; if it disagrees, the credit union forwards them to the plaintiff.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

The most expensive errors on MC 32 are not arithmetic — they are procedural. Below are the ten that cost garnishees the most money and time.

• Missing the 14-day deadline. Default judgment for the full underlying amount is the consequence under MCR 3.101(S).
• Filing without mailing copies to plaintiff and defendant. The disclosure is procedurally defective and can be struck.
• Identifying the wrong defendant. You become liable to the misidentified person for wrongful garnishment.
• Calculating CCPA on gross instead of disposable earnings. You over-withhold and the employee can recover the overage from you.
• Releasing funds before the 28-day objection window closes. You owe the funds twice if an exemption is later proven.
• Checking both periodic and non-periodic boxes. The disclosure is void on its face.
• Forgetting the certificate of mailing. Procedural defect; possible strike of the filing.
• Using a bank’s internal disclosure letter instead of MC 32. Courts reject non-SCAO substitutes.
• Overlooking a senior writ or child-support order. You misdirect funds and owe the senior creditor.
• Letting an unauthorized employee sign the verification. Perjury exposure and potential striking of the disclosure.

Do’s and Don’ts

These are the most useful behavioral rules for a clean MC 32 filing.

Do’s:

• Do calendar the 14-day deadline the moment you are served, because the clock runs on calendar days, not business days.
• Do confirm the defendant’s identity with at least two data points, since common-name errors are the fastest path to wrongful-garnishment liability.
• Do file MC 32 even when you owe the defendant nothing, because silence is treated as refusal under MCR 3.101(S).
• Do hold disclosed funds until the objection windows close, so you do not pay the same money twice.
• Do keep proof of mailing for at least three years, because plaintiffs sometimes challenge timeliness long after the fact.
• Do consult counsel when bankruptcy or child-support priority is involved, because those rules override commercial garnishment.

Don’ts:

• Don’t guess the service date, because an inaccurate date can void your timeliness defense.
• Don’t release funds early, because the defendant may have a valid exemption claim.
• Don’t paraphrase form labels, because mismatched labels confuse the clerk and the parties.
• Don’t ignore a writ that lists no garnishee fee, because you should still disclose and note the missing fee.
• Don’t sign without personal knowledge of the records, because verification is sworn under perjury.
• Don’t use an outdated SCAO revision, because the clerk can reject it and the deadline keeps running.

Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Most garnishees handle MC 32 in-house, but some cases warrant outside help. Below are the trade-offs.

Pros of filing on your own:

• No legal fees, which matters for small businesses with thin margins.
• Faster turnaround, because in-house staff can move within hours.
• Better records access, since payroll and account data are already on hand.
• Privacy, because outside counsel does not see employee or customer data.
• Builds internal compliance muscle, useful for repeat garnishees.

Cons of filing on your own:

• Higher error risk, especially on CCPA math and bankruptcy interactions.
• No privilege, because internal emails about the writ are discoverable.
• Time cost, which can exceed the cost of a flat-fee attorney review.
• Default exposure, because missed deadlines convert into full-judgment liability.
• No appellate cover, since pro se garnishees rarely preserve issues for appeal.

For repeat garnishees (banks and large employers), outsourcing to a garnishment processing service often pays for itself by year-end.

FAQs

Who must sign Michigan Form MC 32?

Yes, the form must be signed by an officer, manager, or authorized agent of the garnishee with personal knowledge of the records, under MCR 3.101(H).

Is MC 32 required if I owe the defendant nothing?

Yes, you must still file MC 32 and check the not indebted box, because silence is treated as refusal and exposes you to default under MCR 3.101(S).

Do I write the date the writ was issued or the date I was served in the service-date box?

No, never the issue date — write the date and time you were served, because that anchors your 14-day clock under MCR 3.101(H).

Should I check periodic or non-periodic if the writ is for a one-time bonus?

No, check non-periodic, because a one-time bonus is a single-payment obligation governed by Form MC 13, not the recurring MC 12.

Do I list joint-account balances in full or only the defendant’s share in Disclosure 3?

Yes, list the full balance, because Michigan lets the non-debtor co-owner file an objection rather than forcing the garnishee to apportion funds.

Is a notary required on MC 32?

No, MC 32 uses a sworn verification under penalty of perjury, not notarization, per MCR 1.109(D)(3).

Can I use my company’s internal answer letter instead of MC 32?

No, Michigan courts require the SCAO-approved MC 32 form when one exists, and substitutes will be rejected.

Do I need to mail copies to the plaintiff and defendant?

Yes, you must mail copies on the same day you file and complete the certificate of mailing on the form itself.

Is there a filing fee for MC 32?

No, the garnishee pays no filing fee; the plaintiff already tendered the $6 garnishee fee with the writ under MCL 600.4012.

Can I release the funds as soon as I file MC 32?

No, you must hold the funds for the full 28-day objection period under MCR 3.101(L) before releasing anything to the plaintiff.

Does a Chapter 7 bankruptcy stop the garnishment?

Yes, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 freezes pre-petition wage and account garnishments, and you must disclose the bankruptcy on MC 32.

How long is a periodic writ good for after I file MC 32?

Yes, 182 days under MCR 3.101(B)(1), during which you keep withholding each pay period until the judgment is satisfied or the writ expires.

Do I withhold 25% of gross or 25% of disposable earnings?

No, never gross — withhold 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount over 30× federal minimum wage, whichever is less, per the CCPA.

Is MC 32 the right form for a state income-tax refund intercept?

No, tax-refund intercepts use a separate disclosure (MC 14) tied to Form MC 52, not MC 32.