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Wage Garnishment Limits in New Hampshire

New Hampshire allows wage garnishment only on a New Hampshire court judgment, and exempts at least 50 times the federal minimum hourly wage for each week.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Hampshire at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Exempt: 50x federal minimum wage a week; judgment required
Wages earned before the writ are exempt except in actions on a New Hampshire court judgment. Wages for work after service of the writ are exempt.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Hampshire

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in New Hampshire: Exempt: 50x federal minimum wage a week; judgment required. Wages earned before the writ are exempt except in actions on a New Hampshire court judgment. Wages for work after service of the writ are exempt.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in New Hampshire?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in New Hampshire: yes.

Does New Hampshire protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in New Hampshire: yes.

Does New Hampshire give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

No. Head of household exemption in New Hampshire: no.

Where do the New Hampshire wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from N.H. Rev. Stat. 512:21(II). 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.