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Wage Garnishment Limits in Vermont

In Vermont, for a debt from a consumer credit transaction, 85% of weekly disposable earnings or 40 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater, is exempt; for other debts it is 75% or 30 times the minimum wage.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Exempt: greater of 85% or 40x federal minimum wage
Applies to consumer credit debts. Other judgment debts: 75% or 30x federal minimum wage exempt. Recent public assistance recipients are fully protected.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No
A court can exempt more if the debtor's reasonable expenses for self and dependents exceed the standard exemption.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Vermont: Exempt: greater of 85% or 40x federal minimum wage. Applies to consumer credit debts. Other judgment debts: 75% or 30x federal minimum wage exempt. Recent public assistance recipients are fully protected.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Vermont?

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

Does Vermont protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Vermont: yes.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Vermont: no. A court can exempt more if the debtor's reasonable expenses for self and dependents exceed the standard exemption.

Where do the Vermont wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Vt. Stat. tit. 12, 3170. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

No wage garnishment order may be entered against a debtor who received assistance from the Department for Children and Families or the Department of Vermont Health Access in the prior two months.

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.