Wage Execution
What it is:
Also called garnishment, a wage execution is a process under which money owed or paid to a borrower is given to a creditor instead.
How it works (Example):
Let's say John Doe has stopped paying child support to his ex-wife. His ex-wife takes him to court for the money owed and obtains a garnishment, whereby the court seizes a portion of John's monthly paycheck and automatically gives it to his ex-wife.
Wage execution is often used to recoup back taxes, delinquent child support or judgments, and the courts have the ability to garnish not just wages, but bonuses, commissions, pension income, and distributions from retirement plans. Welfare, unemployment, veterans benefits, social security income, workers compensation and child support payments generally cannot be garnished.
The Consumer Credit Protection Act prohibits employers from firing employees because their earnings are being garnished, though there are some exceptions.
Why it Matters:
Wage executions generally require a court order, and they can destroy a person's credit rating. It is important to note that not all things can be garnished; state laws set forth the exemptions. Usually, state laws prohibit garnishing a person's assets to the extent that they leave the borrower with no way to support himself or herself.
