Wage Garnishment in Michigan
How much of your paycheck can be garnished in Michigan and how to claim an exemption.
Short answer: Follows the federal limit: the amount garnished is the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage (weekly). 15 U.S.C. 1673; MCR 3.101; SCAO form MC 14; MCL 600.4012
| Wage garnishment limit | Follows the federal limit: the amount garnished is the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage (weekly). Employers calculate it on the court's garnishee disclosure form. A wage garnishment stays in effect until the judgment is paid. MCL 600.4012: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-4012. No separate Michigan head-of-household wage exemption was confirmed. |
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| Claiming an exemption | File Objections to Garnishment (form MC 49) with the court that signed the writ, at no cost (except in probate court). If objections are filed within 14 days after you are served with the writ, the garnishee keeps withholding but may not release the money until the court orders; if filed later, the garnishee keeps withholding and releasing funds unless the court orders otherwise. Grounds include exempt income, bankruptcy, an installment payment order, the legal maximum already being withheld, payment in full, or an invalid writ. You may also ask the court for an installment payment order instead of garnishment (form MC 15). Form MC 49 (notice of hearing section): https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/mc49.pdf |
Where to get help in Michigan
More Michigan debt & collections
- Statute of Limitations on Debt in Michigan
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Michigan
- What Creditors Can't Take in Michigan
- All Michigan debt & collections rules
FAQ
How much of my wages can be garnished in Michigan?
Follows the federal limit: the amount garnished is the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage (weekly). Employers calculate it on the court's garnishee disclosure form. A wage garnishment stays in effect until the judgment is paid.
How do I stop a garnishment or claim an exemption in Michigan?
File Objections to Garnishment (form MC 49) with the court that signed the writ, at no cost (except in probate court). If objections are filed within 14 days after you are served with the writ, the garnishee keeps withholding but may not release the money until the court orders; if filed later, the garnishee keeps withholding and releasing funds unless the court orders otherwise. Grounds include exempt income, bankruptcy, an installment payment order, the legal maximum already being withheld, payment in full, or an invalid writ. You may also ask the court for an installment payment order instead of garnishment (form MC 15).
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.