32-5-310. Wage assignments -- limitations. - Montana Statutes

     32-5-310. Wage assignments -- limitations. (1) Subject to the limitations in subsection (2), wage assignments, which include salary, wages, commissions, and other compensation for services, are permitted and any loan made subject to a wage assignment must be considered a loan secured by the wage assignment. The amount by which the assignment exceeds the amount of the consideration actually paid, for the purposes of regulation under this chapter, may not be considered interest on the loan and must be credited to the borrower. Transactions subject to the provisions of this section are governed by and are subject to the provisions of this chapter.
     (2) Any assignment to a licensee or for the benefit of a licensee of salary, wages, commissions, or other compensation for services may not exceed 10% of the salary, wages, commissions, or other compensation owing at the time of the notice to the debtor's employer or that is subsequently owed. An assignment is not valid unless it is in writing and is signed in person by the borrower or if the borrower is married is signed in person by both husband and wife, provided that written assent of a spouse is not required when husband and wife have been and are living separate and apart when the assignment is made. Notice of the assignment must be given to the debtor's employer only if the debtor defaults in payment of the whole or some part of the loan for which the assignment is security. The notice must be served on the employer or a managing agent of the employer, must be verified by the oath of the licensee or the licensee's agent, and must include:
     (a) a correct copy of the assignment;
     (b) a statement of the amount of the loan and the amount due and unpaid; and
     (c) a copy of this section.
     (3) The acceptance and honoring of any assignment must be at the option of the employer.

     History: En. Sec. 20, Ch. 283, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 37, Ch. 71, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47-220; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 372, L. 2007.