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Wage Garnishment Limits in Florida

Florida fully protects the disposable earnings of a head of family up to $750 a week, and above that amount they can be garnished only with written consent; other workers get the federal limit.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Florida at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Head of family: $750 a week exempt; others: federal limit
A head of family provides more than half the support of a child or other dependent.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes, except most head of family pay
Stricter than federal limit
Only for heads of family
Workers who are not heads of family get only the federal limit.
Head of household exemption
Yes
Pay above $750 a week can be garnished only if the head of family agreed in writing.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Florida

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Florida: Head of family: $750 a week exempt; others: federal limit. A head of family provides more than half the support of a child or other dependent.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Florida?

Yes, except most head of family pay. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Florida: yes, except most head of family pay.

Does Florida protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Only for heads of family. Stricter than federal limit in Florida: only for heads of family. Workers who are not heads of family get only the federal limit.

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

Yes. Head of household exemption in Florida: yes. Pay above $750 a week can be garnished only if the head of family agreed in writing.

Where do the Florida wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Fla. Stat. 222.11. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Exempt earnings deposited in a bank account stay exempt for 6 months if they can be traced.

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.