Wage Assignment

Search Dictionary

Definition of 'Wage Assignment'

A wage assignment is a legal document that allows a creditor to collect a debt directly from a debtor's wages. The creditor files a wage assignment with the court, and the court orders the employer to withhold a certain amount of money from the debtor's paycheck and send it to the creditor.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering a wage assignment. First, the creditor must have a valid debt against the debtor. Second, the debtor must be employed. Third, the wage assignment must be in writing and signed by both the debtor and the creditor.

Once the wage assignment is in place, the employer will begin withholding the specified amount of money from the debtor's paycheck and sending it to the creditor. The debtor will continue to receive their paycheck, but the amount will be reduced by the amount of the withheld money.

Wage assignments can be a helpful way for creditors to collect debts, but they can also be a burden on debtors. If you are considering a wage assignment, be sure to understand all of the implications before you sign.

Here are some additional details about wage assignments:

* The amount of money that can be withheld from a debtor's paycheck is limited by law. In most cases, the creditor can only withhold up to 25% of the debtor's disposable income. Disposable income is the amount of money that remains after taxes and other mandatory deductions have been taken out.
* The creditor must continue to collect the debt even if the debtor changes jobs. The wage assignment will follow the debtor to their new employer, and the new employer will be required to withhold the money from the debtor's paycheck.
* The debtor can cancel a wage assignment at any time. However, the creditor may still be able to collect the debt if the debtor has already received money from the wage assignment.

If you are a debtor who is facing wage garnishment, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. First, you can try to negotiate with the creditor to see if you can work out a payment plan. Second, you can file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy will discharge most debts, including wage garnishments. Third, you can contact a consumer law attorney for help. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options and represent you in court if necessary.

Do you have a trading or investing definition for our dictionary? Click the Create Definition link to add your own definition. You will earn 150 bonus reputation points for each definition that is accepted.

Is this definition wrong? Let us know by posting to the forum and we will correct it.