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Wage Garnishment Limits in Mississippi

Mississippi exempts all wages for 30 days after a garnishment writ is served, then allows the federal limit: the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Mississippi at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Fully exempt for 30 days, then federal limit
After the 30 days, the lesser of 25% or the excess over 30 times the federal minimum wage applies.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes, 30 day full exemption
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Mississippi

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Mississippi: Fully exempt for 30 days, then federal limit. After the 30 days, the lesser of 25% or the excess over 30 times the federal minimum wage applies.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Mississippi?

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

Does Mississippi protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes, 30 day full exemption. Stricter than federal limit in Mississippi: yes, 30 day full exemption.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Mississippi: no.

Where do the Mississippi wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Miss. Code 85-3-4. 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.