How to Comply With a Creditor Garnishment Order

Author: Ryan F. Donovan

If an employee is subject to a court ordered creditor garnishment to pay an outstanding debt, such as an unpaid loan or credit card amount, a court or agency will send the employer an order requiring it to withhold from the employee's wages according to the terms of the order. An employer that fails to comply may be held liable for serious penalties, damages, court costs and attorney fees. An employer should read the court order in its entirety as soon as it is received to determine all that it entails and to resolve any immediate questions up front. Employers should take the following steps to ensure compliance.