Response to Income Withholding Order — Contest Child Support Garnishment

Your employer has notified you that they received an Income Withholding Order for child support and are legally required to begin garnishing your wages. The IWO is a federal-form document sent directly from a court or state child support enforcement agency. IWOs are delivered directly to employers, who generally must begin withholding no later than the first pay period after the applicable federal/state implementation period, even if the amount is disputed. In many states that means a very short window. Your remedy is a formal contest with the issuing agency or court. Under federal law, your employer generally cannot evaluate whether the order is valid or the amount correct — they must typically comply and forward the withholdings to the state disbursement unit. Common grounds for challenge: - Mistaken identity (the IWO names you but you're not the obligor) - The underlying order was vacated, modified, or the support obligation has already terminated - The withholding amount exceeds applicable CCPA limits (consult the specific percentages under the current federal rule for your situation — supporting another family vs. not, and whether 12+ weeks in arrears) - The arrears calculation is mathematically wrong - The order is from another state but was not properly registered for enforcement under UIFSA Each state has its own procedure for contesting IWOs — typically a request for administrative hearing with the state IV-D agency, or a motion to quash with the issuing court. Verify your state's specific deadline before counting days.