Garnishment refers to a legal process that permits the compulsory deductions of an individual’s earnings towards the payment of a debt or obligation to a creditor, authorised agency or government. Examples of a garnishment from pay include child support/child maintenance deductions as well as fines, underpayments of tax or court orders relating to debts or judgements to name a few.

Rules and regulations vary significantly by country, but often such garnishments from pay may be capped to a certain amount or percentage of either gross or net pay for the payroll period in question.

Garnishment is known by many other terms around the world such as 'attachment of earnings order' in the United Kingdom and similarly relates to a deduction from pay relating to a court order, child maintenance deduction or fine.

If you have a garnishment deducted from your pay, then you should have already received sufficient notice from the relevant agency or court. If however you are unsure of what the deduction from pay relates to then please reach out to your local Mauve contact for more information.