Maryland Wage Garnishment Laws

In Maryland, how much judgment creditors can garnish from your wages varies depending on the county in which you reside.

Maryland law limits the amount of your earnings that a creditor can attach (garnish) from your wages for repayment of debts.  The Maryland wage attachment laws (also called wage garnishment) protect the same amount of wages as the federal wage garnishment laws in some Maryland counties. In others the rules are more restrictive.However, for a few types of debts, creditors can take more.

Read on to learn about wage execution law in Maryland.

What Is a Wage Garnishment?




When Can a Creditor Garnish Your Wages in Maryland?



  • unpaid income taxes
  • court ordered child support
  • child support arrears, and
  • defaulted federal student loans.

Limits on Wage Garnishment in Maryland


Federal law places limits on wage garnishment amounts. The Maryland laws protect the same amount of income as the federal law, in some counties. In other Maryland counties, the amount that can be garnished is more restrictive than federal law. Here are the rules:

In Queen Anne’s, Kent, Worcester, and Caroline Counties, the law essentially mirrors federal law. Your creditors can garnish the lesser of:

  • 25% of your disposable earnings for that week, or
  • The amount by which your disposable earnings for the week exceed 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage.

If you live in a county other than Queen Anne's, Kent, Worcester, or Caroline,  in accordance with Md. Code Ann., [Com. Law] § 15-601.1, your creditors can garnish the lesser of:

  • 25% of your disposable earnings for that week, or
  • the amount by which your disposable earnings for the week exceed $145.


A recent Maryland Appellate Court decision, however, ruled that this law is invalid if  the $145 prong results in a garnishment amount that is greater than that which is allowed by federal law. So, if the amount by which your dispoable earnings exceed $145 is greater  than the amount by which your disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage, then the judgment creditor can only garnish the lesser of the two amounts. Marshall v. Safeway,  437 Md. 542 (2014).        

The court in Marshall v. Safeway  noted that while the Maryland code got the law wrong, the District Court Form for wage garnishment got it right.  That form tracked the federal wage garnishment limit for all counties; it didn't mention the $145 prong. Strangley, after the Marshall v. Safeway  decision, the District Court Form was amended to include the $145 prong.    See Request for Garnishment on Wages.  Despite the wording of the form, if a judgment creditor tries to garnish your wages under the formula and the amount exceeds what is allowed under federal law, you may challenge the amount. (Whether you want to do so depends on your circumstances. If the difference is very small, and it won't make a difference to your budget, then it might not be worth the effort.)

Special Limits for Child Support, Student Loans, and Unpaid Taxes


Child Support



Student Loans in Default


Unpaid Taxes


States and local governments may also be able to garnish your wages to collect unpaid state and local taxes. In Maryland, your wages can be attached in the same amount that applies to judgment creditors, in accordance with the Salary Lien provision of Maryland law. Check out the website of the Maryland Comptroller at  for more information.

Total Amount of Garnishment


Restrictions on Job Termination Due to Wage Garnishments



Some states offer more protection for debtors. In Maryland, your employer cannot fire you for a single garnishment in one calendar year.

For More Information on Maryland Wage Garnishment Laws

To find more information about wage attachments in Maryland, including the procedures that employers must follow in carrying out wage attachment orders, check out the website of the District Court of Maryland at

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