Relief from garnishment

A debtor may obtain relief from garnishment, but this is subject to strict conditions. When child maintenance payments are being collected, changes to garnishment can only be made on serious grounds. A precautionary distraint may be carried out in connection with granting relief, if necessary. An enforcement officer has the discretion to decide on any relief.

Payment-free months

Once the garnishment has been in effect for more than a year, the debtor can be granted one to three payment-free months a year. The prerequisite is that the debtor's net income is less than twice the amount of their protected portion, their necessary housing costs or other living expenses are high in relation to the amount remaining after the garnishment, or there is another special reason for the suspension of the payment obligation.

If the debtor’s ability to pay has deteriorated significantly

The amount to be garnished may be reduced, upon application, if the debtor’s ability to pay has deteriorated significantly. The ability to pay may deteriorate as a result of high healthcare expenses, unemployment or child maintenance payments, for example, or for some other special reason.

Deferral of garnishment if the debtor becomes employed

If the debtor finds employment after having been unemployed for more than a year, they can apply for a deferral of garnishment for a maximum of six months from the beginning of the employment relationship. The granting of deferral is subject to certain conditions.

The debtor can try to agree on a payment schedule with the enforcement officer in order to make the payments directly to the enforcement authorities. If wages are garnished, the employer will be informed of this.

Payment time

The enforcement officer may grant an extension to the payment time on the request of the debtor. There must be a special reason for the extension, and it must be stated in the request. The maximum length of the extension is three months from the due date of the payment demand.

Payment schedule

Instead of wage garnishment, the enforcement officer may agree with the debtor in writing that the debtor will make the payments to the enforcement officer in accordance with a payment schedule. The payment schedule is set up for the same amount as garnishment.

Payment agreement

The enforcement officer may also garnish wages or business income in accordance with a written agreement concluded between the creditor and the debtor, if the income is garnishable and the agreement cannot be deemed unreasonable. In a payment agreement, the creditor and the debtor may agree on the amount to be garnished, reduce the amount of the debt or shorten the duration of the garnishment, for example. However, the debtor must be left with at least the protected portion to be able to pay for their living expenses.

Enforcement fees

The enforcement authorities charge a scheduled fee each time the debtor makes a payment. A scheduled fee will no longer be charged when the debtor has paid the fee for 18 months during a two-year period.

For more information, please see the website of the National Enforcement Authority Finland.

Paying your debt: payment time, payment schedule and payment agreement