Skip to content
Oakclause

Wage Garnishment Limits in Alabama

Alabama allows wage garnishment for consumer debt up to the federal limit: the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Alabama at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage
Ala. Code 6-10-7 also exempts 75% of wages; consumer loan, credit sale and lease debts follow Ala. Code 5-19-15.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
No, matches federal limit
For consumer credit debts created before April 12, 1988, the cap is 20% or the amount above 50 times the federal minimum wage.
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Alabama

How much of your wages can be garnished for consumer debt in Alabama?

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Alabama: Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage. Ala. Code 6-10-7 also exempts 75% of wages; consumer loan, credit sale and lease debts follow Ala. Code 5-19-15.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Alabama?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Alabama: yes.

Does Alabama protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

No, matches federal limit. Stricter than federal limit in Alabama: no, matches federal limit. For consumer credit debts created before April 12, 1988, the cap is 20% or the amount above 50 times the federal minimum wage.

Does Alabama give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

No. Head of household exemption in Alabama: no.

Where do the Alabama wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Ala. Code 6-10-7 and Ala. Code 5-19-15. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

For consumer loans, consumer credit sales and consumer leases, Ala. Code 5-19-15 (as amended by Act 88-294, effective April 12, 1988) applies the same 25% or 30 times federal minimum wage limit to debts created on or after that date.

What this means in practice

Disposable earnings are what remains after deductions the law requires, such as income tax, Social Security and required withholding. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or retirement contributions are usually not subtracted, so the protected amount is often less than take home pay suggests.

The limits in this guide apply to ordinary consumer debt. Child support, alimony, federal and state taxes, and federal student loans follow separate rules that often allow a larger share of pay to be taken, even in states with strict limits for other debts.

Exemptions are often not applied automatically. A worker may need to file a claim of exemption with the court within a short deadline after receiving notice of the garnishment. Reading the notice promptly, and talking with the creditor about a payment plan or settlement, can keep more of each paycheck.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.