Florida Wage Garnishment Laws

Wages can be garnished after a judgment has been issued in court. Garnishment applies to both wages and bank accounts. States have different laws regarding the percentage of wages that can be garnished and the minimum salary which can be garnished. Florida statutes have very strict garnishment guidelines.

Exemption - Head of Household

Florida Statutes protect the head of household from wage garnishment. Unless the head of household makes more than $500 a week and has not consented in writing to have their wages garnished, he is exempt.

Exemption - Others

Wages are exempt from garnishment if the amount equals less than 30 times the minimum wage per week. Florida's minimum wage is currently $7.25.

Garnishment percentage

If your wages are garnished, creditors can collect up to 25% of wages until the judgment is paid.

Statute of limitations

Debtors have a specific amount of time of enforcement. In Florida, credit card companies only have four years. Contracts have five years. Judgments have seven years for domestic, but it's five years for foreign judgments.

If your wages have been garnished

Once a wage garnishment is obtained, employers have to comply with the order. Employers are not allowed to terminate an employee because of any one wage garnishment.

Resources

• Wage Garnishment - Department of Labor