Wage Garnishment in Texas
Calculate Your Protected Paycheck in Texas
Texas: The Strongest Wage Protection in America
Texas stands alone among U.S. states in protecting wages from garnishment for consumer debt in its state constitution. Article XVI, Section 28 of the Texas Constitution explicitly exempts wages from garnishment, making it the strongest possible legal protection.
What This Means for Texas Workers
If a credit card company, debt buyer, or other commercial creditor sues you and wins a judgment in Texas, they cannot garnish your wages. Period. This constitutional protection has made Texas a famously debtor-friendly state, attracting residents from neighboring states with weaker protections.
Exceptions — What CAN Be Garnished in Texas
The constitutional ban on wage garnishment does NOT apply to:
- Child support and alimony (up to 50-65% can be garnished)
- Federal student loans (up to 15% of disposable earnings)
- Tax debt (IRS and state tax obligations)
- Criminal restitution
The Texas Trifecta of Asset Protection
Texas combines three powerful protections:
- Wage garnishment ban (constitutional)
- Unlimited homestead exemption (your home cannot be taken by creditors, regardless of value)
- Generous personal property exemptions (up to $100,000 for a family)
This makes Texas arguably the best state in America for protecting assets from creditors.
Comparison to Neighboring States
| State | Wage Garnishment Protection |
|---|---|
| Texas | Complete ban |
| New Mexico | Enhanced (40× multiplier) |
| Oklahoma | Federal baseline (25%) |
| Arkansas | Federal baseline (25%) |
| Louisiana | Federal baseline (25%) |
The contrast is dramatic — a worker earning $1,000/week in Louisiana could lose up to $187.50/week to garnishment, while the same worker in Texas loses $0. This is why some debtors strategically relocate to Texas.
Statute: Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 28; Tex. Prop. Code § 42.001 — 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.