Money & Debt · Wage Garnishment
Wage Garnishment Laws in Minnesota
How much of your paycheck a creditor can take in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota wage garnishment calculator →
The limit and what is protected in Minnesota
How much a creditor can take, the pay that is exempt, and where it comes from in the code.
| Most a creditor can take | Up to 25% (10% or 15% for lower earners) of disposable earnings |
| How the limit works | A larger protected amount than the federal floor |
| Fully protected pay | Weekly disposable pay up to the greater of 40 times the Minnesota minimum wage or 40 times the federal minimum wage is fully protected. With the 2026 Minnesota minimum wage at $11.41, that floor is $456.40 a week, well above the federal 30x floor of $217.50. |
| 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 | Minn. Stat. §571.922 (with §571.912 exemption) |
Minnesota moved to an income-tiered garnishment schedule that took effect in 2025, so the percentage cap now depends on where your weekly income falls relative to 40, 60, and 80 times the minimum wage. The floor uses whichever minimum wage is greater, state or federal; Minnesota set a single statewide rate of $11.41 for 2026, so the state figure drives the $456.40 floor. Whichever calculation protects more money controls. The tiers and floor apply to ordinary consumer judgments, not to child support, which follows its own higher limits.
Minnesota adopted the tiered 10/15/25% wage-garnishment schedule effective in 2025, replacing the older flat 25% rule, and its statewide minimum wage rose to $11.41 on January 1, 2026 (the state also eliminated the separate small-employer rate). The 40x floor therefore sits at $456.40 a week in 2026 and will move again when the minimum wage is next adjusted for inflation.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if your wages are being garnished in Minnesota. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Find your income tier first
Under Minn. Stat. §571.922, work out where your weekly income falls against 40, 60, and 80 times the minimum wage. If it is at or below 40 times ($456.40 at the 2026 state rate), nothing can be garnished. Between 40 and 60 times the cap is 10%, between 60 and 80 it is 15%, and only above 80 times does it reach 25%.
- Claim the need-based assistance exemption if it applies
If you receive or have received government assistance based on need, such as MFIP, General Assistance, SSI, or Medical Assistance, within the past six months, all of your earnings are exempt under Minn. Stat. §571.912. Return the exemption form with proof, and note the funds stay exempt for 60 days after deposit.
- Return the exemption notice on time
Minnesota garnishment comes with an exemption notice and form. Complete it, attach any proof such as recent bank statements or benefit records, and send it back by the deadline. If you do nothing, withholding proceeds at the applicable tier.
- Get free Minnesota legal help
LawHelp Minnesota and your local legal aid office offer guided forms and can confirm your income tier and any exemptions. 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.
→ LawHelp Minnesota: Garnishment and Your RightsThis 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 Minnesota workers get wrong
Minnesota protects paychecks more than federal law does, and in 2025 it made the rule friendlier to lower earners. Under Minn. Stat. §571.922, the share a creditor can take on an ordinary judgment now depends on your income tier. If your weekly income is more than 40 but not more than 60 times the minimum wage, the cap is 10%. From 60 to 80 times, it is 15%. Only above 80 times the minimum wage does it reach the federal 25%. On top of that, any weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the greater of the state or federal minimum wage is fully protected. With Minnesota's 2026 statewide minimum wage at $11.41, that floor is $456.40 a week, far above the federal $217.50. Minnesota adds one more strong shield: under §571.912, all earnings are exempt if you receive or recently received government assistance based on need, such as MFIP, General Assistance, SSI, or Medical Assistance.
Common questions
How much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish in Minnesota?
It depends on your income tier under Minn. Stat. §571.922. If your weekly income is more than 40 but not more than 60 times the minimum wage, the cap is 10% of disposable pay. From 60 to 80 times it is 15%, and only above 80 times does it reach 25%. Below 40 times the minimum wage, nothing can be garnished.
What is the protected wage floor in Minnesota?
Weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the greater of the state or federal minimum wage is fully protected. Minnesota set a $11.41 statewide minimum wage for 2026, so 40 times that is $456.40 a week. Because the state rate is higher than the federal rate, the state figure drives the floor, which is well above the federal $217.50.
Am I fully exempt from garnishment if I get government assistance in Minnesota?
Often yes. Under Minn. Stat. §571.912, all of your earnings are exempt if you receive or have received government assistance based on need, such as MFIP, General Assistance, SSI, or Medical Assistance, within the past six months. Those funds stay exempt for 60 days after they are deposited, but you have to claim the exemption and provide proof.
Did Minnesota change its wage garnishment rules recently?
Yes. Minnesota replaced the older flat 25% rule with an income-tiered schedule of 10%, 15%, and 25% that took effect in 2025, so lower earners now have less taken. Its statewide minimum wage also rose to $11.41 on January 1, 2026, which raised the protected floor to $456.40 a week.
How do I claim an exemption from wage garnishment in Minnesota?
Minnesota garnishment comes with an exemption notice and form. Complete the form, attach proof such as recent bank statements or benefit records for any protected income, and return it by the deadline. If you do nothing, withholding proceeds at the tier that matches your income. LawHelp Minnesota has step-by-step instructions.
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.