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State Wage Garnishment Laws Chart: Overview

by Practical Law Labor & Employment

Law stated as of 30 December 2017 | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, USA (National/Federal), Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

A Chart providing an overview of state wage garnishment laws, focusing on key requirements and common garnishment situations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This Chart offers a state-by-state comparison of critical topics, including garnishment exemptions, limits on disposable earnings, rules for prioritizing multiple garnishment orders, and job protections for employees. It addresses various types of income withholding, such as for child support, consumer debt, tax levies, and student loans. Designed for employers, especially those operating in multiple states, this resource helps navigate the administratively complex task of complying with different jurisdictional requirements. This Chart also includes an overview of federal law, including the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), which provides the basic framework and minimum protections available to debtors. This allows users to understand when state law offers greater protection against garnishment and related adverse employment actions.

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