What states can garnish wages?

Answer 1

AnswerAt present four U.S. states � North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas � do not allow wage garnishment at all except for debts related to taxes, child support, federally-guaranteed student loans, and court-ordered fines or restitution for a crime the debtor committed. Several other states observe maximum thresholds that are lower than the 25 per cent maximum provided by federal law. All other states allow wage garnishment for all money judgments.

According to the North Carolina Department of Labor: North Carolina courts cannot garnish wages for credit card debt. However, if a court from another state issues a garnishment order for credit card debt, North Carolina employers must enforce the out of state garnishment order.

Here is the exact text:

Under North Carolina law, an employer may be ordered to withhold wages from an employee and pay them to a creditor for the following types of debts: taxes, student loans, child support, alimony, and payment of ambulance services in certain North Carolina counties. However, the courts of North Carolina are not permitted to order an employer to withhold wages for other types of debts such as car loans, credit card debt, and other personal debt items. While the North Carolina courts are not permitted to garnish wages based on these debts, creditors in other states may be able to get an order of garnishment under their own states' laws. It is not a violation of the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act for an employer to withhold an employee's wages if required to do so by law. If a court from another state issues a valid order under that state's laws requiring an employer to withhold a North Carolina employee's wages for payment of a debt, the employer does not violate the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act by obeying that order.

Answer 2

South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. Please be advised that wage garnishment is allowed in Texas if the judgment creditor has no other means to collect the debt (bank account levy, seizure and sale of non exempt property or lien against real property). All four named states do allow the levy of bank accounts even those that are joint and/or marital and other recovery action.

Answer 3

None, all states allow wage garnishment if it pertains to child support, spousal maintenance, state and federal taxes

Answer 4

California

Answer 5

Louisiana