Learn how to file or amend a lien against an employer for unpaid owed wages or how to contest or stop a wage lien if you're an employer.
Before you get started
- When filing a wage lien, a worker alleges that their employer hasn't paid wages owed to them.
- The wage lien places a legal hold on property. This assures there are assets available if a court or agency decides that you're owed wages.
For employees
File a wage lien by mail
Download the UCC Wage Lien Statement form and complete it following the instructions on page 2. Only type or laser print on the form. We don’t accept forms filled out by hand.
Mail your form(s) and a check or money order (payable to the Department of Licensing) for the filing fee to:
Uniform Commercial Code
Department of Licensing
PO BOX 9660
Olympia, WA 98507-9660
Notify employer of wage lien
You must notify your employer after you file a wage lien.
- Mail copies of your forms via certified mail with return receipt requested.
- You’ll receive a copy of your filing after we post it to our system.
Required information
The notice of wage lien to your employer must include:
- The claimant's (employee) name, address, and phone number
- A description of the personal property subject to the wage lien
- The name of the property owner
- The principal amount being claimed
How to amend a wage lien
Download the UCC Wage Lien Statement Amendment form and complete it following the instructions on page 2. Only type or laser print on the form. We don’t accept forms filled out by hand.
Mail your form(s) and a check or money order (payable to the Department of Licensing) for the filing fee to:
Uniform Commercial Code
Department of Licensing
PO BOX 9660
Olympia, WA 98507-9660
For employers
Contest or stop a wage lien
You can contest or stop a wage lien if:
- 8 months have passed,
- You have paid the wage claim, or
- You feel the claim is invalid.
How to contest or stop a wage lien
You must provide the UCC office with a court order signed by a judge. You can get a court order at a district or superior court.
Send the court order along with the wage lien file number, name of debtor, and name of the secured party to:
Uniform Commercial Code
Department of Licensing
PO BOX 9660
Olympia, WA 98507-9660