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Wage Garnishment Limits in Kentucky

Kentucky follows the federal limit: garnishment for consumer debt cannot exceed the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Kentucky at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage
Same formula as federal law. Support orders are not subject to this limit.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
No, matches federal limit
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Kentucky

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Kentucky: Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage. Same formula as federal law. Support orders are not subject to this limit.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Kentucky?

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

Does Kentucky protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

No, matches federal limit. Stricter than federal limit in Kentucky: no, matches federal limit.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Kentucky: no.

Where do the Kentucky wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Ky. Rev. Stat. 427.010(2). 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.