We received a garnishment order for one of our business customers. Does the COVID-19-related moratorium on garnishment proceedings in Illinois apply only to consumers and not to businesses?

Yes, the current prohibition against the service of garnishment summonses in Illinois applies only to consumer debtors and consumer garnishees. Under Executive Order 2020-25, as amended and extended by Executive Order 2020-55, the service of a garnishment summons, wage deduction summons, or a citation to discover assets on a consumer debtor or consumer garnishee is prohibited until October 17, 2020. The Executive Orders do not mention business debtors or garnishees.

For resources related to our guidance, please see:

  • Illinois Executive Order 2020-55 (September 18, 2020) (“Executive Order 2020-25, as amended and revised below, is re-issued in its entirety and extended through October 17, 2020. . . . During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations . . . the service of a garnishment summons, wage deduction summons, or a citation to discover assets on a consumer debtor or consumer garnishee, [is] suspended.”)