How to support your Claim of Exemption

A reply (statement, declaration, or affidavit) is your written side of the story with facts and proof about what you’re saying.
You can use a Declaration (form MC-30) to write your reply. If you need more space, use Attached Declaration (form MC-031). 

You can attach other papers to the Declaration that prove what you’re saying. Examples:

• Paystubs or other paperwork to prove how much you make and who pays you
• Bills - to show expenses 
• Bank statements - especially for a bank levy, showing account activity and source of deposits at least one month before the levy. If your deposits were not direct-deposited into your account, you may need other paperwork, like paystubs, to show who deposited into the account.

Be sure to black-out any account numbers on the paperwork.

Make 3 copies of your Declaration and any attachments.

File the original and 3 copies with the court. Keep 1 filed copy for yourself. The other you need to have served on the other side.

Once you've filled out your Declaration, you must share it with the other side in your case. You do this using a court process called service, or serving papers. This means another adult, not you or anyone else in your case, mails (or hands) the other side the papers. This person is your server.

The serve must mail the forms at least 5 court days before your court date. A court day is a day the court is open, Monday through Friday, not including holidays.

After your server mails the form, they must fill out and sign a Proof of Service form. The server will fill out a Proof of Service (form SC-112A).

• Make 1 copy of the filled out Proof of Service.
• File the original and copy with the court clerk.
• Keep a filed copy for yourself.