Louisiana Wage Garnishment Laws: How Much Can They Take?

In Louisiana, a judgment creditor can garnish up to 25% of your disposable weekly earnings, and your first 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage each week is protected no matter what. Louisiana sets this rule in La. R.S. 13:3881, which exempts 75% of your disposable earnings from seizure. With the federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour as of 2026, that means roughly the first $217.50 of your weekly disposable earnings cannot be touched, and only the smaller of (a) 25% of disposable earnings or (b) the amount above $217.50 can be taken. Louisiana tracks the federal ceiling rather than beating it, so unlike Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, or South Carolina, which ban most wage garnishment for ordinary consumer debts, Louisiana does allow creditors to garnish wages for credit cards, medical bills, and other money judgments.

Louisiana's wage exemption explained

"Disposable earnings" means what is left of your paycheck after legally required deductions such as federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. It is not your gross pay, and it is calculated before voluntary deductions like a 401(k) contribution or health insurance you elect.

Louisiana's formula in La. R.S. 13:3881(A)(1) protects the greater of two things, which works out to the same protection as the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA):

• 75% of your disposable earnings for the week are exempt, leaving a maximum of 25% subject to garnishment; or
• An amount equal to 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage per week is fully protected if that protects more of your check.

Because Louisiana has no separate state minimum wage, the federal rate of $7.25 per hour controls the 30-times calculation. Confirm the current federal minimum wage with the U.S. Department of Labor before relying on the $217.50 weekly figure, because if Congress raises the federal minimum wage the protected floor rises with it automatically.

A quick example: if your disposable earnings are $600 a week, 25% is $150. The amount above $217.50 is $382.50. The creditor takes the smaller number, so it can garnish $150 that week. If your disposable earnings were only $250, then 25% is $62.50 but the amount above $217.50 is just $32.50; the creditor could take only $32.50.

How garnishment actually happens in Louisiana

A creditor cannot reach into your paycheck just because you owe a debt. The process under the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (La. C.C.P. art. 2411 and following) generally runs like this:

• The creditor must first sue you and win a money judgment. You should receive a citation and petition and have the chance to respond.
• After getting the judgment, the creditor files a petition for garnishment and serves written garnishment interrogatories on your employer.
• Your employer must answer the interrogatories, usually within 15 days, stating your wages and beginning to withhold the allowed portion.
• Louisiana uses a continuing garnishment: once it attaches, it stays in effect and keeps deducting from each paycheck until the judgment, interest, and costs are paid in full, rather than requiring a new garnishment for every pay period.

Louisiana law also lets the court order your employer to deduct a processing fee from your wages for the administrative burden of the garnishment, which is in addition to what goes to the creditor.

Income that is exempt from garnishment

Beyond the 75% wage protection, several categories of income are exempt from seizure by ordinary creditors under La. R.S. 13:3881 and federal law. These generally include:

• Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability (SSDI), and SSI, which are protected by federal law.
• Unemployment compensation and workers' compensation benefits.
• Public assistance and welfare benefits.
• Most pension, retirement, and tax-deferred annuity funds, which Louisiana protects broadly.
• Veterans' benefits and certain other federal benefits.

An important practical warning: when exempt funds like Social Security are deposited into a bank account, they keep their protection, but you may have to prove the source of the money if the creditor tries to garnish the account. Keeping exempt benefits in a separate account from other deposits makes that proof much easier.

When more than 25% can be taken

The 25% cap is for ordinary debts. Certain obligations allow a larger bite under federal rules that Louisiana follows:

• Child support and spousal support: Under the federal CCPA, up to 50% of disposable earnings can be withheld if you are supporting another spouse or child, and up to 60% if you are not, with an extra 5% allowed when you are more than 12 weeks behind. Louisiana enforces support through income assignment orders.
• Federal and state taxes: Tax authorities can take more than 25% under their own collection rules.
• Federal student loans: The U.S. Department of Education can administratively garnish up to 15% of disposable pay without first suing you.

How to claim an exemption or reduce the garnishment

If a garnishment is taking too much or reaching exempt income, you have the right to object. Steps to consider:

• File a claim or motion with the court that issued the garnishment, asserting that the wrong amount is being withheld or that the seized funds are exempt (for example, Social Security or wages below the protected floor).
• Ask for a reduction based on hardship. Louisiana law allows a court, in some circumstances, to reduce the percentage garnished when the standard amount would deprive you of the means to support yourself and your dependents. You must request this and show your necessary expenses.
• Check the judgment itself. If you were never properly served with the original lawsuit, you may be able to challenge the underlying judgment, which would undo the garnishment.
• Confirm the math. Employers sometimes calculate disposable earnings incorrectly. Verify that only legally required deductions were subtracted before the 25% was applied.

Act quickly. Because Louisiana garnishments are continuing, every pay period that passes without an objection means more money leaves your check.

Protection from retaliation

Federal law (the CCPA) bars your employer from firing you because your wages were garnished for a single debt. That federal floor applies in Louisiana. If garnishments for multiple separate debts pile up, the single-debt protection may no longer apply, so it is worth addressing the underlying debts.

Where to verify and get help

Wage garnishment touches your livelihood, so confirm the current rules before you act. The Louisiana Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section handles consumer complaints and publishes guidance for Louisiana residents. For the controlling statute, read La. R.S. 13:3881 (exemptions) and La. C.C.P. art. 2411 and following (garnishment procedure) on the Louisiana State Legislature's official website. For the federal baseline, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division explains the CCPA garnishment limits, and the federal minimum wage figure used in the protected-floor calculation. If a garnishment threatens your basic expenses, consult a licensed Louisiana attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization, because an individual judgment and your specific budget can change what you are entitled to claim.

Official Louisiana Sources

This page is based on Louisiana law. Limits and deadlines change — verify the current details directly with the official Louisiana sources below. This is general legal information, not legal advice.

• Louisiana Attorney General - Consumer Protection Section — official Louisiana agency.
• File a Consumer Dispute (Online Consumer Complaint Form) - Louisiana Attorney General
• Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:1401 - Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (short title)

Federal law also applies. Federal laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act protect you nationwide, on top of Louisiana’s own rules.