• A lien is an order that directs a third party to confiscate assets, usually wages from a job or money in a bank account, to pay off an unpaid debt.

  • The IRS can seize wages without a court order.
  • The Consumer Credit Protection Act sets limits on what can be deducted from wages, with the exception of unpaid taxes, late alimony, bankruptcy orders, unpaid student loans, and voluntary wage assignments.
  • The debtor may be eligible for assistance if he is in financial difficulty.