Money & Debt · Wage Garnishment
Wage Garnishment Laws in Arkansas
How much of your paycheck a creditor can take in Arkansas, the pay that is fully protected, and what to do right now if a garnishment has started, cited to the statute.
Want your own number? Run your paycheck through the Arkansas wage garnishment calculator →
The limit and what is protected in Arkansas
How much a creditor can take, the pay that is exempt, and where it comes from in the code.
| Most a creditor can take | 25% of disposable earnings |
| How the limit works | The federal ceiling: 25% of disposable pay, or 30× the minimum wage protected |
| Fully protected pay | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected, and a creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. Laborers and mechanics also get the first $25 a week of net wages protected automatically under Ark. Code §16-66-208. |
| Other exemptions |
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| Federal backstop | The federal 25% / 30× minimum-wage floor also applies; a creditor can never take more than federal law allows. |
| Statute | Ark. Code §16-66-208; 15 U.S.C. §1673 (CCPA) |
For ordinary consumer judgments Arkansas applies the federal ceiling: the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. The extra laborer-and-mechanic protections in §16-66-208 (the automatic $25 weekly floor and the claimable 60-day exemption) sit on top of that but are tied to the low constitutional personal-property limits, so their practical effect is narrow. If a claim of exemption is sustained, those wages cannot be garnished again for 60 days.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if your wages are being garnished in Arkansas. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Confirm the federal floor first
For an ordinary consumer judgment, the first $217.50 of your weekly disposable pay cannot be touched, and a creditor can take only the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above that floor. If your take-home is at or below $217.50 a week, none of it should be garnished.
- Check the laborer and mechanic exemptions
If you are a laborer or mechanic, Ark. Code §16-66-208 gives you an automatic $25-per-week floor and lets you claim up to 60 days of wages as exempt by filing a sworn statement tied to the constitutional personal-property limit. If a claim is sustained, those wages are protected from garnishment again for 60 days.
- Watch your bank account for a levy
A creditor can also try to freeze money already in your bank account. Exempt funds, such as Social Security, can still be protected there, but you usually have to claim the exemption in writing, so check your account and act if it is frozen.
- Get free Arkansas legal help
Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services can help you respond to a garnishment, check the math, and file a claim of exemption. This is legal information, not legal advice, so confirm your own situation with a lawyer.
You do not have to face a garnishment alone. This resource can help you check whether an exemption applies and how to file the paperwork.
→ Legal Aid of ArkansasThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines to claim an exemption are short and vary by court, so act quickly and confirm the specifics for your case.
What Arkansas workers get wrong
Arkansas follows the federal garnishment ceiling for ordinary consumer debt: a creditor with a judgment can take the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount by which your weekly disposable pay exceeds $217.50, which is 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage. That floor is always protected. On top of the federal rule, Arkansas keeps an older set of protections for laborers and mechanics in Ark. Code §16-66-208. The first $25 a week of a laborer's or mechanic's net wages is absolutely exempt with no paperwork, and they can claim up to 60 days of wages as exempt by filing a sworn statement. The catch is that the 60-day exemption is tied to the state constitution's personal-property limit, which is only $200 for a single person and $500 for someone married or with dependents, so its real-world reach is narrow. If a claim of exemption is sustained, those wages cannot be garnished again for 60 days. Practically, most Arkansas debtors rely on the 25% federal cap.
Common questions
How much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish in Arkansas?
For an ordinary consumer judgment, a creditor can take the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount by which your weekly disposable pay exceeds $217.50. Disposable pay is what remains after legally required deductions. Arkansas follows the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act ceiling for these debts.
What extra protection do laborers and mechanics get in Arkansas?
Under Ark. Code §16-66-208, the first $25 per week of a laborer's or mechanic's net wages is absolutely exempt with no paperwork. They can also claim up to 60 days of wages as exempt by filing a sworn statement, but only if those wages plus their other personal property stay within the constitutional exemption ($200 single, $500 married or head of household).
What is the 60-day wage exemption in Arkansas?
It lets a laborer or mechanic protect up to 60 days of wages from garnishment by filing a sworn statement with the court that the claimed wages, together with their other personal property, do not exceed the Arkansas constitutional personal-property limit. If the claim is sustained, those wages cannot be seized by garnishment again for 60 days. Because the constitutional limit is low, the practical benefit is often modest.
What is the $217.50 protected amount in Arkansas?
It is the weekly floor of pay that cannot be garnished at all for a consumer judgment. Arkansas uses the federal formula: 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage equals $217.50 a week. A creditor can reach only the portion of your weekly disposable pay above that figure, and never more than 25%, whichever leaves you more.
What debts can still reach my Arkansas wages beyond the 25% cap?
The 25% cap applies to ordinary consumer judgments. Child support, spousal support, unpaid federal or state taxes, and defaulted federal student loans follow their own federal rules and can take a larger share of your pay regardless of the state consumer limit.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.