A writ of garnishment is one method a creditor might use to recover unpaid debt. Federal law exempts from garnishment 75% of disposable earnings per week, or an amount up to thirty times the federal minimum hourly wage (currently $5.15), whichever is greater. Some states still have wage garnishment laws in place; however, when the federal law provides a larger exemption than the state law, the federal law supersedes the state law.
The links below are to debt laws in all 50 states, including wage garnishment amounts, maximum interest rates a creditor may assess, and statutes of limitations on collecting debt.
Note: The state wage garnishment amounts in this section apply to creditors only. Your wages can always be garnished for student loans, child support and alimony in amounts that are sometimes higher than those listed in this section.
