Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73
§1672 Definitions
Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 41— - CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - RESTRICTIONS ON GARNISHMENT › § 1672
Summary
Defines three key words used in this part of the law. Earnings — pay a person gets for their own work, such as wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and regular pension or retirement payments. Disposable earnings — the portion of that pay left after taking out amounts the law says must be withheld. Garnishment — any legal process that forces part of a person’s pay to be held back to pay a debt.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §1672
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
For the purposes of this subchapter:
(a)The term “earnings” means compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise, and includes periodic payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program.
(b)The term “disposable earnings” means that part of the earnings of any individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of any amounts required by law to be withheld.
(c)The term “garnishment” means any legal or equitable procedure through which the earnings of any individual are required to be withheld for payment of any debt.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1672
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73