Wage Attachments and Garnishments

A wage attachment, also called a wage garnishment, is the process of deducting money from an employee's pay as the result of a court order or action by an authorized agency. Common examples of debt that result in attachments include:

  • Child support

  • Unpaid taxes

  • Unpaid court fines

When Princeton receives a notice advising us to withhold a certain amount of an employee's wages for payment, the University cannot refuse to “attach” the wages and must deduct the required payment amount. Wage garnishments continue until the entire debt is paid or arrangements are made to absolve it. Generally, only one wage attachment at a time may be in effect for an employee. However, a child support court order may operate simultaneously with a tax levy.

Processing Fees

The University charges a processing fee for wage attachments. For child support, there is a $1.00 processing fee. For any other garnishment order, the University charges a processing fee totaling 5% of the deduction amount.

Types of Attachments and Princeton's Obligations