Form 4-808 NMRA
Form 4-808. Notice of right to claim exemptions (garnishment).
[For use with Rules 1-065.2, 2-802, and 3-802 NMRA]
STATE OF NEW MEXICO
COUNTY OF __________________
[IN THE [DISTRICT] [MAGISTRATE] [METROPOLITAN] COURT]
[__________________ JUDICIAL DISTRICT]
______________________________, Plaintiff
v.
No. ____________
______________________________, Defendant
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CLAIM EXEMPTIONS (GARNISHMENT)
1.
THE JUDGMENT CREDITOR IS GARNISHING YOUR PROPERTY, WHICH
MAY INCLUDE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT:
A ruling has been made in this case that you owe money to the judgment creditor. The
judgment creditor has started to collect that money from your property, which may
include your bank account.
2.
PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE:
This notice is to tell you that some kinds of property or money may NOT be taken from
you even after the court has ruled that you owe the judgment creditor money. These
funds or property are protected under federal or state law. Money or property that may
not be taken is called “exempt” property. You may claim an exemption by filing with the
court a claim of exemption (garnishment) form. There are limits on how much of your
wages may be taken. You do not need to file a claim of exemption form to protect your
exempt wages.
Here is a list of some exempt money and property. Other kinds of money or property not
listed may also be exempt. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY BEFORE
COMPLETING AND FILING THIS FORM.
3.
PARTIAL LIST OF EXEMPTIONS:
a. social security benefits (OASDI, SSI);
b. public assistance benefits such as medicaid, medicare, food stamps, or other aid
from a government public assistance program;
c. life, accident, or health insurance proceeds;
d. workers’ compensation awards (part may be garnished for child or spousal
support);
e. occupational health benefits;
f. unemployment compensation benefits subject to the limitations of NMSA 1978,
Section 51-1-37;
g. veterans’ benefits;
h. pensions and retirement funds;
i. crime victims’ reparation fund payments;
j. a family allowance to a decedent’s surviving spouse and children, subject to the
limitations of NMSA 1978, Sections 45-2-401 and 45-2-402;
k. the minimum amount of shares necessary for certain cooperative associations as
provided by NMSA 1978, Section 53-4-28;
l. fraternal benefit society payments;
m. oil and gas equipment not financed by the judgment creditor to be used for
purposes for which it was purchased as provided by NMSA 1978, Section 70-4-12;
n. the aggregate of two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400) held in a depository
or investment account;
o. a health savings account that would qualify for tax exemptions under 26 U.S.C.
Section 223 or any similar health savings account;
p. an educational savings account that would qualify for tax exemptions under 26
U.S.C. Section 529 or any similar educational savings account;
q. any refundable tax credit payments from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or
the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department;
r. alimony, family, or domestic support or separate maintenance to the extent
reasonably necessary for the support of the person or any dependent of the person;
s. payment under a stock bonus, pension, profit-sharing individual retirement
account, annuity, or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, or
length of service, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the person or
any dependent of the person, unless such plan or contract does not qualify under
Section 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
t. exempt wages as defined by NMSA 1978, Section 35-12-7;
u. any stimulus payment held by or payable to the person or the person’s
dependents in any form;
v. an interest in or proceeds from a pension, individual retirement account, annuity,
profit-sharing plan, and any other retirement account.
4.
EXEMPTION FROM GARNISHMENT OF JUDGMENT FOR MEDICAL DEBT:
If the underling judgment in this case was a cause of action to recover a judgment for
medical debt under the Patients’ Debt Collection Protection Act, NMSA 1978, Sections
57-32-1 to 57-32-10, Section 57-32-4(A) bars collection actions, including writs of
garnishment, against patients who are indigent at the time the collection action is
brought.
5.
HOW TO PROTECT EXEMPT PROPERTY:
A “claim of exemption (garnishment)” form is attached for you to complete and file with
the court. YOU MUST COMPLETE AND RETURN THE ATTACHED CLAIM OF
EXEMPTIONS (GARNISHMENT) FORM TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT WITHIN
TEN (10) DAYS AFTER SERVICE OF THIS NOTICE ON YOU. YOU MUST ALSO
SERVE A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND SIGNED CLAIM OF EXEMPTIONS
(GARNISHMENT) FORM ON THE JUDGMENT CREDITOR AND ON THE
GARNISHEE.
If the judgment creditor disputes a claimed exemption, the clerk or the judge will notify
you of the date and time for a court hearing on your claim. If you dispute the amount of
garnishment by the garnishee, you must file with the clerk a Notice of Dispute and
Request for Hearing form. You must go to that hearing and explain why your money or
property is exempt. You must bring to the hearing any proof that your money or property
is exempt.
If you do not complete and file the claim of exemptions (garnishment) form within ten
(10) days and attend the hearing, your money or property may be turned over to the
judgment creditor.
YOU SHOULD COMPLETE AND RETURN THE CLAIM OF EXEMPTION FORM TO
THE CLERK OF THE COURT WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS AFTER SERVICE OF THIS
FORM ON YOU. MAKE A COPY OF THE COMPLETED FORM FOR YOUR
RECORDS AND SERVE A COPY ON THE JUDGMENT CREDITOR AND ON THE
GARNISHEE.