Wage Attachment Law and Legal Definition
In a suit for non-payment of credit, the creditor can move the court to order attachment of debtor’s wages to pay off the debt. The judge may issue a court order forcing the debtor’s employer to attach all or a part of his/her wages for payment of the specific debt in issue. This process is also termed as ‘wage execution’, ‘wage garnishment’ or ‘wage attachment.’
Upon receipt of an order for wage attachment, the employer must provide a copy of the same to the affected employee. The employee (debtor) is entitled to a period of twenty days from the date of service before any money can be taken from his/her pay. The wage execution order will remain in force until the debt is completely paid off. Though a wage attachment order can be attained for all kinds of debts, it is found commonly in debts related to child support, taxes, government fines that are unpaid and defaulted educational loans. An order for wage attachment can have adverse effect on a person’s credit rating. Many U.S. states have laws regulating wage attachments.
