How to Submit Wage Garnishment and Child Support Orders

How to Submit Wage Garnishment and Child Support Orders

Wage garnishments and child support orders are legal mandates that require an employer to withhold a portion of an employee's earnings. Common examples include court-ordered child support, unpaid taxes, or judgments. Employers submit orders to Employer Success for setup; there is no in-product form to add or edit garnishment or child support deductions.

For how deductions appear once set up (including locked fields during Run Payroll), see How Child Support Orders and Garnishments are Handled.

What Employer Success handles

For payroll clients, Employer Success manages:
  • Setup of the garnishment or child support deduction
  • Processing the deduction each payroll cycle
  • Submitting the associated payments to the appropriate agency or creditor
What employers are responsible for

Employers remain responsible for:
  • Providing complete and accurate documentation for each order
  • Providing any additional documentation the agency requests (such as worksheets or employer response forms)
  • Notifying Employer Success of changes to existing orders, including terminations
How to submit an order

Email the complete order documentation to help@bernardhealth.com.

Required documentation

Make sure the documentation includes:
  • The garnishee's full name (the party the payment is going to)
  • The remittance address
  • Detailed deduction calculations (amount per pay period, percentage, or other formula as specified in the order)
  • Reference or order number
If pages are missing or required details are incomplete, Employer Success will request the complete documentation before setup can proceed.

What happens after you submit
  1. Employer Success reviews the documentation.
  2. They follow up if any information is missing.
  3. They set up the deduction in the payroll system, including the appropriate agency, payment method (ACH or check), and priority.
  4. They notify you once setup is complete.
  5. Deductions begin on the effective date specified in the order.
Priority

Some employees may have multiple garnishments or child support orders. Orders are handled according to legal priority — child support orders typically take priority over other garnishments. Questions about priority for a specific employee? Contact Employer Success.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about wage garnishments and child support orders and is not intended as legal, tax, or financial advice. Requirements and procedures vary by state and jurisdiction. For legal guidance specific to your business or a particular order, consult an attorney.