Wage garnishment is a legal process in which a creditor, after obtaining a court judgment, directs your employer to withhold a portion of your paycheck to repay a debt. The amount that can be garnished is limited by both federal and state laws, usually allowing creditors to take only a percentage of your disposable income. Once a garnishment is in place, it remains until the debt is fully paid off or resolved. Stop a wage garnishment by filing a claim of exemption or if the debt is paid dispute with the creditor. Steps to stop a wage garnishment are published by California Courts Self-Help Guide Claim of Exemption and Claim of Exemption published by the Sacramento Library.