Money & Debt · Wage Garnishment
Wage Garnishment Laws in Ohio
How much of your paycheck a creditor can take in Ohio, the pay that is fully protected, and what to do right now if a garnishment has started, cited to the statute.
The limit and what is protected in Ohio
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. If your disposable pay for the week is $217.50 or less, nothing can be garnished at all. |
| 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 | Ohio Rev. Code §2716.03 (garnishment of personal earnings); §2329.66 (exemptions); §2716.02 (demand notice) |
Ohio does not go below the federal rule. Before a creditor can garnish, Ohio Rev. Code §2716.02 requires it to send you a written demand at least 15 days (and not more than 45 days) before asking the court for a garnishment order. That notice, often called the "15-day letter," has to offer you the chance to pay or to set up a payment arrangement or trusteeship first. Support orders, taxes, and defaulted federal student loans follow their own federal rules and can reach more than 25%.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if your wages are being garnished in Ohio. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Check whether your pay is already below the protected floor
Ohio protects the first $217.50 of your weekly disposable pay (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage). If your disposable pay for the week is at or under that amount, a creditor cannot garnish anything. Above it, the most an ordinary creditor takes is 25% of disposable pay.
- Respond to the 15-day demand notice before it becomes an order
Ohio Rev. Code §2716.02 requires a creditor to send a written demand at least 15 days before seeking garnishment. Use that window. You can pay, propose a payment plan, or apply to the court for a trusteeship, any of which can head off the garnishment.
- Ask the court about a trusteeship or payment plan
Under the trusteeship option a court-appointed trustee handles your debt payments instead of your employer, and setting one up in good faith can stop new garnishments from covered creditors. The local municipal or county court clerk can point you to the application form.
- Watch your bank account and get free Ohio legal help
A creditor may also try to levy money already in your bank account, which follows different rules than a paycheck. Ohio Legal Help and your local legal aid office can walk you through the forms and deadlines. 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.
→ Ohio Legal Help, wage withholding and garnishmentThis 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 Ohio workers get wrong
Most people in Ohio hear "25%" and assume a creditor can grab a quarter of every paycheck no matter what. Ohio actually follows the federal ceiling, and it comes with a hard floor. A creditor holding an ordinary money judgment can take the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount by which your weekly disposable pay tops $217.50, which is 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage. If a week's disposable pay is $217.50 or less, nothing can be taken. Ohio also gives you a warning shot most states do not require. Under Ohio Rev. Code §2716.02, a creditor has to mail you a written demand, the so-called 15-day letter, at least 15 days before it can ask the court for a garnishment order. That letter must offer you a chance to pay or arrange a trusteeship first. Used quickly, that window can stop the garnishment before it starts.
Common questions
How much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish in Ohio?
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 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage). If your disposable pay for the week is $217.50 or less, nothing can be garnished. Ohio follows the federal limit and does not go below it.
What is the Ohio 15-day letter and why does it matter?
Before a creditor can garnish your wages, Ohio Rev. Code §2716.02 requires it to send you a written demand at least 15 days (and no more than 45 days) before it asks the court for a garnishment order. People call it the "15-day letter." It has to offer you a chance to pay or to arrange a payment plan or trusteeship. Acting during that window is often the best way to avoid garnishment.
Can I stop a wage garnishment in Ohio with a trusteeship?
Yes, that is one of the main options Ohio offers. You can apply to the court for a trustee to take over your debt payments instead of your employer. When a trusteeship is set up in good faith, it can stop new garnishments from the creditors it covers. Your local municipal or county court clerk can point you to the application.
Does Ohio protect any part of my wages no matter what?
Yes. Ohio protects the first $217.50 of your weekly disposable pay, which is 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage. That amount cannot be reached by an ordinary creditor. If your entire weekly disposable pay is at or below $217.50, there is nothing left for a creditor to garnish.
What debts can take more than 25% of my Ohio paycheck?
The 25% cap covers ordinary consumer judgments. Child support and spousal support, unpaid taxes, and defaulted federal student loans follow their own federal rules and can reach a larger share of your pay. Those categories are not limited by the ordinary Ohio garnishment rule.
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.