Skip to content
Oakclause

Wage Garnishment Limits in Louisiana

Louisiana exempts 75% of weekly disposable earnings from garnishment, and never less than 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage, with disposable earnings figured after some insurance and retirement deductions.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Louisiana at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Exempt: greater of 75% or 30x federal minimum wage
Disposable earnings also subtract certain retirement, medical insurance and life insurance deductions already being taken when the garnishment is served.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes, slightly (more deductions excluded)
Same 75% and 30x minimum wage exemption as federal law, but disposable earnings also exclude certain retirement, medical and life insurance deductions.
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Louisiana

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Louisiana: Exempt: greater of 75% or 30x federal minimum wage. Disposable earnings also subtract certain retirement, medical insurance and life insurance deductions already being taken when the garnishment is served.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Louisiana?

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

Does Louisiana protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes, slightly (more deductions excluded). Stricter than federal limit in Louisiana: yes, slightly (more deductions excluded). Same 75% and 30x minimum wage exemption as federal law, but disposable earnings also exclude certain retirement, medical and life insurance deductions.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Louisiana: no.

Where do the Louisiana wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from La. R.S. 13:3881(A)(1). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Under Louisiana law, disposable earnings are figured after subtracting reasonable deductions for retirement, medical insurance and life insurance that the employer is already taking when the garnishment is served.

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.