What does it mean if something is garnished?

Wage garnishment is a legal procedure in which a person’s earnings are required by court order to be withheld by an employer for the payment of a debt such as child support.

How does a garnishment work in a court of law?

Garnishment. For other uses, see Garnish. Garnishment is a legal process for collecting a monetary judgment on behalf of a plaintiff from a defendant. Garnishment allows the plaintiff (the “garnishor”) to take the money or property of the debtor from the person or institution that holds that property (the “garnishee”).

How to handle a paycheck or bank account garnishment?

How to Handle a Garnishment. You’ve just learned that one of your creditors is starting to take money out of your paycheck or even out of your bank account! This is called a garnishment. It’s a legal collection action that creditors in some states can take to collect after they’ve obtained a judgment against you.

What causes an employer to issue a wage garnishment?

Situations that incur wage garnishment typically include: Alimony; Child support; The default of a student loan; Unpaid taxes; and Other consumer debts.

What is an example of a credit card garnishment?

For example, in a case with federal tax, local tax, and credit card garnishments, the first garnishment taken would be the federal tax garnishments, then local tax garnishments, and, finally, garnishments for the credit card.

What do you need to know about the garnishment process?

Q: What is the garnishment process? A: The employer will typically receive a notice or order of garnishment that contains information about who is subject to the order, when to begin withholding, how much to withhold, and how and where to remit payments. The order may also require a response from the employer.

How to Handle a Garnishment. You’ve just learned that one of your creditors is starting to take money out of your paycheck or even out of your bank account! This is called a garnishment. It’s a legal collection action that creditors in some states can take to collect after they’ve obtained a judgment against you.

How is an employer notified of a wage garnishment?

Employers are typically notified of a wage garnishment via a court order or IRS levy. They must comply with the garnishment request, and typically start withholding and remitting payment as soon as the order is received. IRS wage garnishment and levy paperwork will walk you through the steps of completing the wage garnishment.

What are the exceptions to the wage garnishment law?

The garnishment law allows up to 50% of a worker’s disposable earnings to be garnished for these purposes if the worker is supporting another spouse or child, or up to 60% if the worker is not. An additional 5% may be garnished for support payments more than l2 weeks in arrears. Exceptions to Title III’s Limitation on Wage Garnishments