Wage Garnishments

When orders are issued by the court establishing a support obligation for a litigant, it may become necessary to enforce the orders through a wage garnishment, which is submitted to the court for approval and then to the employer of the obligor for payment of the obligation. This option is often utilized to avoid and prevent unwanted delays and inconsistent payment patterns by the party required to pay support, and this pertains to orders for child support and spousal support.

 

The garnishment process is meant to facilitate compliance with the terms of the orders, and once the obligation is ordered, enforcing the order through the vehicle of a wage assignment does not usually require a separately filed action with the court to obtain approval of the enforcement method. It is designed to eliminate the accrual of arrears and to reduce the prospect of interference with support obligations.