Oklahoma Garnishment laws & HR compliance analysis

Oklahoma Garnishment: What you need to know

A garnishment is a court order to an employer (the garnishee) to withhold a sum of money from an employee's earnings for payment of a debt. The state of Oklahoma draws a distinction between garnishments for support obligations (called “income assignments” or “wage withholding”) and garnishments for all other debts. Both sorts of garnishment are encompassed in OK Stat. Sec. 12-1171 et seq.

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There are numerous state and federal provisions pertaining to garnishment. Where state laws are more restrictive than federal law (i.e., by protecting a greater amount of salary from garnishment), state laws will govern.

Garnishment vs. wage assignment. Garnishment and assignment of wages are both methods of deducting money from an employee's earnings to repay his or her debts. Garnishment is an involuntary procedure that is usually conducted when the employee has not paid his or her debts voluntarily. Assignment of wages is a voluntary proceeding in which the employee agrees to the deduction.

Note: Generally, Oklahoma child support orders are referred to as income assignments. This term should not be confused with voluntary assignments--as, for example, to make payments on a loan. Assignments of the latter type originate with the employee and not the courts.

Exemption. Seventy-five percent of all earnings during the last 90 days before garnishment begins are exempt from garnishments, but not from child support obligations.

Child Support

Unless the parties provide for an alternative arrangement or the employee executes a voluntary income assignment, the court will order a disposable income assignment for child support sent to the employer. Income consists of wages, salary, commission, ...

Related Topics

State Requirements

Oklahoma Garnishment Resources

Type	Title
Checklists	Garnishments and Attachments Checklist
Handouts	Wage Garnishment and the Law (Handout)
Policies	Garnishments
PowerPoints	Wage Garnishment and Family Support Withholding--What Supervisors Need to Know

See all Garnishment Resources