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Wage Garnishment Limits in Maine

Maine limits wage withholding for a judgment to the least of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above 40 times the higher of the federal or Maine minimum hourly wage.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 25% or amount above 40x minimum wage
Withholding is ordered through an installment payment order after a disclosure hearing.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Maine: Lesser of 25% or amount above 40x minimum wage. Withholding is ordered through an installment payment order after a disclosure hearing.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Maine?

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

Does Maine protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Maine: yes.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Maine: no.

Where do the Maine wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from 14 M.R.S. 3126-A(3) and 14 M.R.S. 3127-B. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The 40 times minimum wage floor, using the higher of the federal or state rate, was set by PL 2021, c. 382.

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.