How Wage Garnishment Works & How to Get Out Of It
How Wage Garnishment Works in Columbus, Ohio, and How to Get Out Of It
Wage garnishment is an order that may be issued by a court or by a government agency to an employer to withhold money from an employee’s wages to pay back debts. When money is garnished, it means that a court has ruled that wages are no longer yours but instead belong to your creditor. In some cases, the debtor and creditor can come up with a payment plan in lieu of a garnishment; otherwise, the Court can award up to 25% of your paycheck to go towards paying off your debt.
Types of Employment and Wages That Can Be Garnished in Ohio
If you are already behind on your bills, you may want to know what kind of income can be garnished. In most cases, if you owe child support, the child support enforcement agency in your county will likely garnish it from your paycheck. Also, if you have unpaid taxes and you are employed by a public or private employer, they can garnish a percentage of your wages.
Can My Wages Be Garnished in Ohio?
If you are facing wage garnishment, don't panic. There are steps you can take to stop a garnishment.
In Ohio you can be garnished if you owe the following types of debts: child support payments; student loans; tax debt from the IRS and Department of Treasury (if you are a public employee); and employment taxes (Social Security/Medicare, Federal Unemployment Tax Act [FUTA], etc.). You can also be garnished if you are sued and a money judgment is entered against you.
If you are in a situation where your wages will be garnished, the process is very simple. All you need to do is call an attorney to help you understand what can be garnished and who will be taking it out of your check. In some cases, it may be best to file a chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Our Worthington, Ohio, debt relief attorneys can represent you and will work hard to make sure all your rights are upheld.