Wage Garnishment in Connecticut
How much of your paycheck can be garnished in Connecticut and how to claim an exemption.
Short answer: The lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the higher of the federal or Connecticut minimum hourly wage. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-361a(a), (f)
| Wage garnishment limit | The lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the higher of the federal or Connecticut minimum hourly wage. Because Connecticut's minimum wage is higher than the federal one, this protects more pay than the federal 30x rule. A wage execution is available only after the debtor fails to follow a court installment payment order. |
|---|---|
| Claiming an exemption | Wages and other property: the debtor returns the signed exemption claim form to the Superior Court; for most personal property levies, within 20 days after the levy. A wage execution is stayed for 20 days after it is served on the employer, and filing a claim within that time keeps it stayed until the claim is decided. Bank accounts: the debtor sends the exemption claim form (or other written notice) to the bank. If no claim is received within 15 days after the bank mails the execution and claim form, the bank pays the funds to the marshal. |
Where to get help in Connecticut
- Connecticut Department of Banking, Consumer Credit Division (licenses consumer collection agencies and enforces creditor collection rules)
- File a complaint or claim
More Connecticut debt & collections
- Statute of Limitations on Debt in Connecticut
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Connecticut
- What Creditors Can't Take in Connecticut
- Medical Debt Protections in Connecticut
- All Connecticut debt & collections rules
FAQ
How much of my wages can be garnished in Connecticut?
The lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the higher of the federal or Connecticut minimum hourly wage. Because Connecticut's minimum wage is higher than the federal one, this protects more pay than the federal 30x rule. A wage execution is available only after the debtor fails to follow a court installment payment order.
How do I stop a garnishment or claim an exemption in Connecticut?
Wages and other property: the debtor returns the signed exemption claim form to the Superior Court; for most personal property levies, within 20 days after the levy. A wage execution is stayed for 20 days after it is served on the employer, and filing a claim within that time keeps it stayed until the claim is decided. Bank accounts: the debtor sends the exemption claim form (or other written notice) to the bank. If no claim is received within 15 days after the bank mails the execution and claim form, the bank pays the funds to the marshal.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.