Wage Garnishment in Florida

Florida’s Strong Head-of-Household Protection

Florida follows the federal CCPA baseline for most workers (25% of disposable earnings), but offers one of the strongest head-of-household garnishment exemptions in the United States.

The $750/Week HOH Exemption

If you are a Florida resident who provides more than half the financial support for a dependent (child, spouse, or other qualifying dependent), the first $750 per week of your wages is completely exempt from garnishment for consumer debt. This is codified in Florida Statute § 222.11.

This $750/week exemption is significantly more generous than the federal $217.50/week floor and applies regardless of your actual wages — it’s a flat dollar-amount protection.

What This Means in Practice

• A single Florida worker earning $800/week: up to $200 garnishable (25% of ~$624 disposable)
• The same worker, if head of household: $0 garnishable ($800 < $750 exempt + deductions protection)

The Florida Debtor Protection Package

Florida is famous for its aggressive debtor protections:

1. Unlimited homestead exemption — your primary residence is completely protected from creditors (up to 0.5 acre in city, 160 acres elsewhere)
2. $1,000 personal property exemption (plus $1,000 for vehicle equity)
3. Wages of HOH protected up to $750/week
4. Annuity and life insurance proceeds exempt

This combination has made Florida a popular destination for asset protection planning. However, the NCLC gave Florida a ‘D’ grade overall, noting that protections for non-HOH workers are minimal.

Statute: Fla. Stat. § 222.11; 15 U.S.C. § 1673 — Official source

This calculator is for consumer debt garnishment only. Not legal advice. Rules vary by debt type (student loans, child support, taxes). Verify with official sources before making any financial or legal decisions.