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Wage Garnishment Limits in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, 80% of disposable earnings is exempt, and earnings are fully exempt if household income is below the federal poverty line or the debtor receives need-based public assistance.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Wisconsin at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Exempt: 80%; fully exempt below poverty line
If garnishing 20% would push household income below the poverty line, garnishment is limited to income above that line.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No, poverty line exemption instead
A debtor may also petition the court for relief if the exemption is not enough for necessities for the debtor and dependents.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Wisconsin

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Wisconsin: Exempt: 80%; fully exempt below poverty line. If garnishing 20% would push household income below the poverty line, garnishment is limited to income above that line.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Wisconsin?

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

Does Wisconsin protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Wisconsin: yes.

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

No, poverty line exemption instead. Head of household exemption in Wisconsin: no, poverty line exemption instead. A debtor may also petition the court for relief if the exemption is not enough for necessities for the debtor and dependents.

Where do the Wisconsin wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Wis. Stat. 812.34 and Wis. Stat. 812.38. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Earnings are also fully exempt if the debtor received need-based public assistance within the 6 months before the garnishment forms were served.

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.