Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on January 19, 2026
All states have methods for collecting court judgments from debtors. Those methods may include wage garnishments and bank account garnishments. The court’s judgment will state the amount of money you owe. The amount of money you owe could include the original debt as well as other fees or costs as determined by the court.
How much of my wages can be garnished?
How much of my wages can be garnished? There’s a limit to how much creditors can garnish from your wages. Under federal law, the garnishment amount can’t be more than 25% of your net (take home) pay, or the amount by which your take home exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage (currently set to $7.25/hour), whichever is less. [ 1]
Can you get a wage garnishment for student loan debt?
Federal law provides that your wages (and your social security benefits) can be garnished for back taxes and student loan debt. This means the Department of Education and the IRS can garnish your wages without first filing a lawsuit or getting a judgment.
Can a spouse’s creditors garnish your wages?
It comes as a surprise to many, but your spouse’s creditors may be able to garnish your wages in some cases. This depends on several factors, including state law, the type of debt involved and how much you earn.
How does bank account garnishment work in Texas?
The court will notify anyone who is being garnished by issuing a Writ of Garnishment or Order of Execution. The bank will then place a levy on the account, and they are obligated to execute the garnishment. Common reasons for bank account garnishment in Texas include:
Can a bank account be garnished and frozen?
Among them is the garnishment of the individual’s wages and the freezing and seizure of his bank account. However, in some cases, money deposited in a bank account cannot be taken by legal force.
When do you not have to pay a wage garnishment?
Follows federal wage garnishment guidelines. Follows federal wage garnishment guidelines unless the debtor is a laborer or mechanic, in which case 60 days of wages are exempt, and after that, the first $25 earned per week is also exempt from wage garnishment.
