Garnishment is usually based on a court order directing a third party, usually an employer, to seize an employee’s wages to satisfy a debt owed by the employee to a creditor
Creditors of wage garnishment can include:
- The former spouse seeking child support
- The former spouse seeking alimony
- The IRS seeking payment of back taxes
- A money judgment holder seeking payment from a debtor
The debtor’s employer is prohibited by law from taking any hostile action against the employee because their wages are being garnished. But as a practical matter, it is natural for an employer to form a negative opinion of the employee which might affect their ability to obtain promotions and pay raises later on.
