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Wage Garnishment Limits in Arkansas

Arkansas makes the first $25 a week of net wages exempt and lets a worker who files a sworn claim protect up to 60 days of wages within the state constitutional exemption; otherwise the federal limit applies.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Arkansas at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Federal limit; first $25 a week of net wages exempt
A worker who files a sworn claim can protect up to 60 days of wages within the constitutional personal property exemption.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Only with a sworn exemption claim
The 60 days of wages exemption requires a sworn statement filed with the court.
Head of household exemption
Indirectly, via a higher constitutional cap
The 60 days of wages claim is capped by the constitutional exemption, which is $500 for a head of family and $200 for others.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Arkansas

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Arkansas: Federal limit; first $25 a week of net wages exempt. A worker who files a sworn claim can protect up to 60 days of wages within the constitutional personal property exemption.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Arkansas?

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

Does Arkansas protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Only with a sworn exemption claim. Stricter than federal limit in Arkansas: only with a sworn exemption claim. The 60 days of wages exemption requires a sworn statement filed with the court.

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

Indirectly, via a higher constitutional cap. Head of household exemption in Arkansas: indirectly, via a higher constitutional cap. The 60 days of wages claim is capped by the constitutional exemption, which is $500 for a head of family and $200 for others.

Where do the Arkansas wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Ark. Code Ann. 16-66-208 and Ark. Const. art. 9, 1 and 2. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

If a claim of exemption is sustained, the worker's wages cannot be garnished again for 60 days.

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.