N
The Daily Insight Hub

Does Florida allow wage garnishment for credit card debt?

Author

William Jenkins

Updated on February 05, 2026

Yes, Florida law does allow creditors to garnish your wages. However, a creditors’ right to garnishment, and the amount they’re entitled to garnish, hinges on whether you qualify as a “head of family” under Florida statute 222.11.

Is Florida a debtor friendly state?

Florida is often referred to as a “debtor-friendly” state as it offers a number of laws that residents can use to obtain protection against creditor claims.

Can a social security check be garnished in Florida?

Social Security: in all states, under federal law, Social Security is largely (though not entirely) exempt from garnishment: it can usually only be garnished for child support, alimony, and federal taxes. Florida goes further than the federal requirements, and makes Social Security entirely exempt from garnishment.

Can a creditor garnish a private pension bill?

A creditor can have a valid debt that never appears on any credit report. Therefore, it is of no legal consequence that a debt fails to appear on a credit report. Generally, government-administered benefits such as state pensions and Social Security cannot be garnished by a judgment. Private pensions enjoy similar status in most states.

Can a judgment debtor garnish a bank account in Florida?

Under Florida law, a creditor can repeatedly levy, or garnish, a bank during the life of the Florida judgment. While the creditor cannot harass a judgment debtor, repeated levies or garnishments of bank accounts, alone, do not constitute harassment, especially if the funds in the bank account are generally not exempt.

How can I avoid a wage garnishment in Florida?

This exemption isn’t automatic; you must claim it by filing an affidavit with the court when you’re notified that the creditor intends to request a wage garnishment. If you owe child support, student loans, or taxes, the government or creditor can garnish your wages without getting a court judgment.