Who can garnish my wages in Florida?

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.

What is a Florida garnishment?

In Florida, creditors (people or companies that you owe) are permitted to take, seize, or “garnish” your wages to pay debts that you owe. If a creditor sues you and wins to recover the remainder of your debt, they will obtain a “Final Judgment” against you.

Can my wages be garnished in Florida?

Florida law limits the amount that a creditor can take or seize or “garnish” from your wages to repay your debts. For the most part, creditors with judgments can only take up to 25% of your wages and only if your wages meet a minimum threshold. However, for a few types of debts, creditors can take more.

How much wages can be garnished in Florida?

A creditor can garnish 25% of your disposable income or the amount by which your disposable income exceeds 30 times federal minimum wage, whichever is less. In Florida, if your disposable income is less than 30 times federal minimum wage, your wages can’t be garnished at all.

What are the wage garnishment laws in Florida?

Wage Garnishment Laws in Florida 1 Garnishment Rules. There are certain circumstances in which wages can be withheld without a court judgment, such as if debtor has unpaid income taxes, court-ordered child support, or defaulted student 2 Florida’s Wage Garnishment and Restrictions. 3 Head of Family Exemption in Florida. …

What does it mean when an employer garnishes your wages?

A wage garnishment (or wage attachment) is a court or government agency order that requires your employer to withhold a certain amount from your wages and to send it to your creditor. The percentage of wages that a creditor can garnish depends on the type of debt as well as federal and state garnishment limits (discussed below).

Do you need a court order for a wage garnishment?

Reasons Why Your Wages Could Be Garnished. A court order for garnishment isn’t required for child support, unpaid income taxes or federal student loan payments. Garnishment for consumer debts, such as credit cards or medical bills, requires a court order. In some states, these consumer debts aren’t subject to wage garnishment at all.

When does a creditor garnish your paycheck?

A wage garnishment allows a creditor to take payment directly from your paycheck when you owe a debt. For instance, a creditor can take steps to force repayment for debts such as: alimony. child support.