I Have a Wage Garnishment – What Should I Do?

Many people find out they have a wage garnishment only after their employer informs them that part of their salary will be transferred to a bailiff. This means an enforcement procedure has started under the Bulgarian Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

The purpose is not punishment but lawful debt recovery while protecting the debtor’s basic living needs.

⚖️ 1. How Wage Garnishment Begins

It requires a valid enforcement writ issued by a court. It may be based on:

a court judgment;
an order for payment (Art. 410 or 417 CPC);
a notarial deed or promissory note.

Then the creditor applies to a private or state bailiff, who opens an enforcement case and sends a notice for voluntary payment (Art. 428 CPC). If payment is not made, forced collection follows — including salary garnishment.

???? 2. Legal Deductions (Art. 446 CPC)

Income	No children	With children
Between 1100–2200 BGN	1/3	1/4
Between 2200–4400 BGN	1/2	1/3
Above 4400 BGN	Amount above 2×MW	Amount above 2.5×MW

At least one minimum wage (1100 BGN) must remain with the employee (except for child support debts).

???? Examples (MW = 1100 BGN)

1500 BGN → deduction 400 BGN, remains 1100 BGN
2000 BGN with child → deduction ≈660 BGN, remains 1340 BGN
5000 BGN → deduction 2800 BGN, remains 2200 BGN
???? 3. If Salary Goes to a Bank Account

Under Art. 446a CPC, the protected amount remains protected even in a bank.
Banks must leave at least one minimum wage (1100 BGN) accessible to the debtor.
⚙️ 4. What You Can Do
1. Review the enforcement file.
2. Contact a lawyer to check for errors or violations.
3. Negotiate payment or installment.
4. File an objection if deductions exceed legal limits.
5. ???? Legal assistance:
  Attorney Yuliya Danova
  Specialist in enforcement and debtor protection
  ???? iulia.danova@abv.bg
  ???? +359 895 645 940