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Wage Garnishment Limits in South Carolina

In South Carolina, a creditor cannot garnish wages for a debt from a consumer credit sale, consumer lease, consumer loan or consumer rental-purchase agreement.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

South Carolina at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
No wage garnishment for consumer credit debts
Applies to consumer credit sales, leases, loans and rental-purchase agreements.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
No
Stricter than federal limit
Yes

Sources

Last checked

The rules in South Carolina

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in South Carolina: No wage garnishment for consumer credit debts. Applies to consumer credit sales, leases, loans and rental-purchase agreements.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in South Carolina?

No. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in South Carolina: no.

Does South Carolina protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in South Carolina: yes.

Where do the South Carolina wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from S.C. Code 37-5-104 and S.C. Code 37-5-106. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

An employer may not fire a worker because a creditor tried to garnish wages for such a debt.

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.