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Garnishment Hearing Procedures:
Court Review of Various Concerns Relating to Garnishment
Last Updated: August 22 2026
Question: Have you been served a Notice of Garnishment Hearing (Form 20Q) in Ontario and need to know if you can dispute it within 30 days?
Answer: In Ontario Small Claims Court, you can request a Garnishment Hearing after receiving a Notice of Garnishment Hearing (Form 20Q) by serving the required Form 20Q within the rules, and if you were served a notice to co-owner of debt you generally must request a garnishment hearing within 30 days after the notice is sent to dispute the enforcement. Denali Paralegal can help you understand whether you, the creditor, debtor, garnishee, or a co-owner of debt has standing to seek relief at the hearing, and what the judge can do such as vary or suspend periodic payments, determine rights and liabilities, or make other orders related to the notice of garnishment If you are dealing with wages, bank, or other garnishment payments, contact (877) 414-4377 to discuss your situation with a family law services provider paralegal in Ontario.
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Reviewing Garnishment Concerns
A Garnishment Hearing may be held for the purpose of addressing disputes arising from a garnishment issue of concern as relating to a Creditor, a Debtor, a Garnishee, a Co-Owner of Debt, or any other person with a genuine legal interest.
The request for a Garnishment Hearing, regardless of the person with standing seeking to initiate the hearing, occurs by issuing and the Notice of Garnishment Hearing (Form 20Q) and serving the Notice of Garnishment Hearing (Form 20Q) upon all proper persons. As above, the persons who may have proper standing to initiate a Garnishment Hearing, and the purpose of the hearing may vary. Specifically, the persons who may initiate a Garnishment Hearing, the purpose of the Garnishment Hearing, and the powers of a Judge at a Garnishment Hearing, are addressed by the Rules of the Small Claims Court, O. Reg. 258/98, wherein it is stated:
Garnishment Hearing
20.08 (15) At the request of a creditor, debtor, garnishee, co-owner of the debt or any other interested person, the clerk shall fix a time and place for a garnishment hearing.
Service of Notice of Garnishment Hearing
(15.1) After having obtained a hearing date from the clerk, the party requesting the garnishment hearing shall serve the notice of garnishment hearing (Form 20Q) in accordance with subrule 8.01 (9).
Powers of Court at Hearing
(15.2) At the garnishment hearing, the court may,
(a) if it is alleged that the garnishee’s debt to the debtor has been assigned or encumbered, order the assignee or encumbrancer to appear and state the nature and particulars of the claim;
(b) determine the rights and liabilities of the garnishee, any co-owner of the debt, the debtor and any assignee or encumbrancer;
(c) vary or suspend periodic payments under a notice of garnishment; or
(d) determine any other matter in relation to a notice of garnishment.
Time to Request Hearing
(16) A person who has been served with a notice to co-owner of debt is not entitled to dispute the enforcement of the creditor’s order for the payment or recovery of money or a payment made by the clerk unless the person requests a garnishment hearing within 30 days after the notice is sent.
Conclusion
A Garnishment Hearing may e used for various purposes including to vary the sum payable in the garnishment of wages, to determine the rights and duties of a garnishee including the seeking of a garnishment absolute Order against a Garnishee, among other things.
NOTE: A considerable number of inquiries containing “lawyers in my vicinity” or “top lawyer in” frequently indicate a necessity for prompt and effective legal assistance, rather than pointing to a particular title. In Ontario, “licensed paralegals” are governed by the identical Law Society that supervises lawyers and are permitted to represent clients in specified litigation issues. Advocacy, legal interpretation, and procedural expertise are fundamental to that position. Denali Paralegal provides legal representation within its licensed parameters, focusing on strategic alignment, evidence preparation, and compelling advocacy directed at securing swift and advantageous outcomes for clients.