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How much of my wages can be garnished in Maryland in 2026?

By Debt Savvy Editorial Team · Updated 2026-10-05 · Facts checked against the law on 2026-09-30

In Maryland, the exempt part of each week's disposable wages is the greater of 75% or $450.00. Federal law also caps ordinary garnishment at the lesser of 25% or the amount above $217.50. On $600.00 weekly pay, the most a creditor can garnish is $150.00.

Key facts

Maryland exempts the greater of 75% or $450.00 of weekly disposable wages.
Federal law caps ordinary garnishment at the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above $217.50.
On $600.00 weekly pay, the most a creditor can garnish is $150.00.
On $800.00 weekly pay, the most a creditor can garnish is $200.00.
The federal cap does not apply to child or spousal support, Chapter 13 bankruptcy orders, or tax debts.

What the rule means in practice

Maryland law protects the greater of 75% of your weekly disposable wages or $450.00 a week. Medical insurance payments deducted by your employer are also exempt. Separately, federal law caps wage garnishment for ordinary debts at the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed $217.50.

The computed examples show how these numbers work. On $600.00 of weekly disposable pay, the most a creditor can garnish for an ordinary consumer debt is $150.00 a week. On $800.00 of weekly disposable pay, the most a creditor can garnish is $200.00 a week. Those examples use the same numbers under Maryland and federal law.

This is not a promise about your own paycheck. It is the legal ceiling for an ordinary debt. The type of debt and the paperwork you were served can change which cap applies.

Garnishment examples

Most a creditor can garnish from one week of disposable earnings — pay left after the amounts the law requires to be withheld — for an ordinary consumer debt such as a credit card judgment (15 U.S.C. § 1672(a)-(b)). Support orders, taxes and defaulted federal student loans follow different rules (15 U.S.C. § 1673(b)(1), 20 U.S.C. § 1095a(a)(1)).
Where you live	$600.00 a week	$800.00 a week	Law
Maryland	$150.00	$200.00	Md. Code, Com. Law § 15-601.1(b)

What to do this week if you were served

If you are served in Maryland with a District Court complaint, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order. Read the papers carefully, note the dates, and respond on time.

Do not ignore the complaint because you think the garnishment amount is wrong. The time to respond is now. Keep a copy of everything you file and everything you receive. If you are unsure what the papers mean, contact a lawyer or legal aid before the deadline passes.

If a garnishment is already in place, you can still ask a lawyer or legal aid about your options. The rules above tell you the maximum for an ordinary debt, but only a lawyer can review your specific court papers and paycheck.

Money already coming out of your pay? Whether an exemption applies to you turns on your own paperwork. You can put that question to a lawyer online.

Ask a lawyer about your garnishment

Common mistakes that hurt readers

One common mistake is assuming the federal cap always applies. It does not apply to court orders for child or spousal support, Chapter 13 bankruptcy orders, or debts for state or federal taxes. If your garnishment is for one of those, the 25% and $217.50 limits may not protect you.

Another mistake is missing the response deadline. In Maryland District Court, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend, or 60 days if you are an out-of-state defendant. If you do not respond, the court may enter a default order. That can lead to garnishment without you ever explaining your side.

A third mistake is guessing about your own numbers. The examples here use $600.00 and $800.00 of weekly disposable pay. Your paycheck may be different. Read your pay stub and the court papers, and get help if the math is unclear.

What changes the answer

The type of debt matters. The federal cap does not apply to child or spousal support, Chapter 13 bankruptcy orders, or state or federal tax debts. For those, the 25% and $217.50 limits may not be the ceiling. For ordinary consumer debts, the federal cap and Maryland's exemption are the rules to look at.

The paperwork matters too. If you were served with a District Court complaint, your response deadline is 15 days from service, or 60 days for out-of-state defendants. Missing that deadline can lead to a default order. The court papers may also show which type of debt is being collected.

Your weekly disposable pay matters. Maryland protects the greater of 75% or $450.00 a week, and medical insurance payments deducted by your employer are exempt. On $600.00 weekly pay, the cap is $150.00. On $800.00 weekly pay, the cap is $200.00. Those numbers show how the rule works, but your own pay stub is the place to start.

When to get help

Consider talking to a lawyer or legal aid if you were served with court papers, if a garnishment is already taking money from your pay, or if you are not sure which type of debt you owe. The rules above are specific, but applying them to your paycheck and your court papers takes a careful look.

Bring your pay stubs, the court complaint, and any garnishment papers. A lawyer or legal aid can help you understand your response deadline and whether the garnishment amount is within the legal cap. They can also explain what happens next in your case.

Do not wait until the deadline passes. In Maryland District Court, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend, or 60 days if you are an out-of-state defendant. If you do not respond, the court may enter a default order. Getting help early gives you the best chance to protect your wages.

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland or federal law set the garnishment limit?

Both sets of rules exist. Maryland protects the greater of 75% or $450.00 of weekly disposable wages. Federal law caps ordinary garnishment at the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above $217.50. Talk to a lawyer or legal aid about which rule applies to your debt.

Can my wages be garnished for child support or taxes?

The federal cap does not apply to court orders for child or spousal support, Chapter 13 bankruptcy orders, or debts for state or federal taxes. That means the 25% and $217.50 limits may not protect you for those debts. Talk to a lawyer or legal aid about your specific order.

What happens if I ignore the Maryland court complaint?

If you are served in Maryland with a District Court complaint, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order. That can lead to garnishment.

How much can be garnished from $600.00 or $800.00 weekly pay?

On $600.00 of weekly disposable pay, the most a creditor can garnish for an ordinary consumer debt is $150.00 a week. On $800.00 of weekly disposable pay, the most is $200.00 a week. These examples use the same numbers under Maryland and federal law.