Wage Garnishment in Rhode Island
How much of your paycheck can be garnished in Rhode Island and how to claim an exemption.
Short answer: Rhode Island's own wage exemption protects only $50 of wages for most debtors, so the federal limit (no more than 25% of disposable earnings, and nothing below 30 times the federal minimum wage per week) is what usually controls. R.I. Gen. Laws 9-26-4(8)-(9); 10-5-8(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
| Wage garnishment limit | Rhode Island's own wage exemption protects only $50 of wages for most debtors, so the federal limit (no more than 25% of disposable earnings, and nothing below 30 times the federal minimum wage per week) is what usually controls. All wages are exempt for a debtor who received public relief, for one year after the relief ends, and wages of a debtor's spouse and minor children are exempt. Since January 1, 2026, wages cannot be garnished at all on a judgment based on medical debt. State exemptions: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-26/9-26-4.htm. Federal limit is 15 U.S.C. 1673. |
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Where to get help in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Banking Division (registers debt collectors)
- File a complaint or claim
More Rhode Island debt & collections
- Statute of Limitations on Debt in Rhode Island
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Rhode Island
- What Creditors Can't Take in Rhode Island
- Medical Debt Protections in Rhode Island
- All Rhode Island debt & collections rules
FAQ
How much of my wages can be garnished in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's own wage exemption protects only $50 of wages for most debtors, so the federal limit (no more than 25% of disposable earnings, and nothing below 30 times the federal minimum wage per week) is what usually controls. All wages are exempt for a debtor who received public relief, for one year after the relief ends, and wages of a debtor's spouse and minor children are exempt. Since January 1, 2026, wages cannot be garnished at all on a judgment based on medical debt.
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.