What is a Wage Garnishment?
If creditors are calling you to demand payment and you've got nothing to give, you may have already heard the term "wage garnishment." It's meant to scare you -- and to be honest, it probably should. A wage garnishment is a means by which creditors can collect money you owe them by taking a portion of your paycheck. It's a drastic legal maneuver and a last resort for most debt collectors -- but it does happen. Here's how the process works.
If you are unable or unwilling to pay a debt you owe, a creditor can sue you to collect the money. If the creditor wins and you still do not pay, the creditor can ask the court to issue a Writ of Garnishment. If the writ is granted, papers are then sent to your employer with instructions to withhold a certain amount of money from your paychecks until the judgement is satisfied. That money goes directly to your creditor and you receive whatever is left.
