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Wage Garnishment Limits in Indiana

Indiana allows wage garnishment for consumer debt up to the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, and a court can lower the share to as little as 10% for good cause.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage
On a showing of good cause the court can reduce the 25% to between 10 and 25%.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Only if a court reduces it
The default limit matches federal law.
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Indiana: Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage. On a showing of good cause the court can reduce the 25% to between 10 and 25%.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Indiana?

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

Does Indiana protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Only if a court reduces it. Stricter than federal limit in Indiana: only if a court reduces it. The default limit matches federal law.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Indiana: no.

Where do the Indiana wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Ind. Code 24-4.5-5-105. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.