To garnish wages means a legal process where a court or government agency orders an employer to withhold a portion of an employee's paycheck to pay off a debt owed by the employee. This withheld money is sent directly to the creditor or agency to satisfy the debt
. Key points about wage garnishment include:
- It is typically initiated by a court order or government agency action, such as an IRS levy or child support enforcement
- The employer, acting as the garnishee, is legally required to deduct the specified amount from the employee’s wages and remit it to the creditor
- Garnishments continue until the debt is fully paid or otherwise resolved
- Federal law limits the amount that can be garnished, generally up to 25% of disposable earnings or a specified minimum wage multiple, with some exceptions like unpaid taxes or child support
- Employers must notify employees in writing when a garnishment order is received and comply to avoid penalties
- Wage garnishments can appear as a line item on pay stubs, often labeled simply as "Garnishment"
In summary, wage garnishment is a court- or agency-ordered deduction from an employee’s paycheck to repay debts such as child support, taxes, student loans, or other financial obligations
