• In some jurisdictions, an attachment-of-earnings order requires the defendant’s employer to deduct a specified sum or percentage of the defendant’s wages or salary and to pay the money into court. The court then sends the money to the plaintiff. Federal law provides a garnishment statute for satisfaction of judgments for child support and alimony. Under this statute, up to 50% of a wage-earner’s disposable income can be seized if the wage-earner has another family of dependents and up to 60% if there is only one family. If the obligor is more than three months in arrears, an additional 5% can be seized until the arrearage is paid. 15 USCA § 1673(b)(2).
— Also termed attachment of earnings; wage-withholding; automatic wage-withholding; wage assignment. Cf. GARNISHMENT; INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDER. [Cases: Execution 420.5; Garnishment 1. C.J.S. Exchanges § 24; Executions § 24.]
