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Wage Garnishment Limits in Texas

In Texas, current wages cannot be garnished for consumer debt; the state constitution allows wage garnishment only for court-ordered child support and spousal maintenance.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Texas at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Current wages exempt from garnishment
Exceptions: court-ordered child support and spousal maintenance.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
No
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No, wages already exempt

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Texas

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Texas: Current wages exempt from garnishment. Exceptions: court-ordered child support and spousal maintenance.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Texas?

No. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Texas: no.

Does Texas protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Texas: yes.

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

No, wages already exempt. Head of household exemption in Texas: no, wages already exempt.

Where do the Texas wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Tex. Const. art. XVI, 28 and Tex. Prop. Code 42.001(b)(1). 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.