Money & Debt · Wage Garnishment
Wage Garnishment Laws in Rhode Island
How much of your paycheck a creditor can take in Rhode Island, the pay that is fully protected, and what to do right now if a garnishment has started, cited to the statute.
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The limit and what is protected in Rhode Island
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 under the federal ceiling. Rhode Island adds its own exemption for the first $50 of earned but unpaid wages under R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4. |
| 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 | R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4; R.I. Gen. Laws §10-5-8 |
Rhode Island follows the federal ceiling of the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above $217.50 a week for consumer debt, and layers on the state exemption for the first $50 of earned but unpaid wages. Wages are also broadly protected before they are reduced to a judgment, and low-income wages tied to public assistance can be fully exempt, so confirm your own situation.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if your wages are being garnished in Rhode Island. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Confirm the protected floor first
Under the federal ceiling that Rhode Island follows, 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. Rhode Island also protects the first $50 of your earned but unpaid wages under R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4.
- Check whether the debt is a consumer debt
The 25% ceiling and the $50 wage exemption apply to ordinary consumer judgments. Child support has priority under R.I. Gen. Laws §10-5-8, and taxes and defaulted federal student loans follow their own federal rules, so identify the debt type before you respond.
- File a claim of exemption if the math is wrong
If a creditor is taking more than the law allows or ignoring the $50 and $217.50 protections, file a claim of exemption with the court that issued the garnishment, usually within a short deadline on your papers. Keep copies of your pay stubs and filings.
- Get free Rhode Island legal help
Rhode Island Legal Services helps residents respond to garnishments and claim exemptions at no cost. 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.
→ Rhode Island Legal Services (statewide legal aid)This 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 Rhode Island workers get wrong
Rhode Island follows the federal garnishment ceiling for consumer debt, so on an ordinary 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, which is 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage. That $217.50 floor is always protected. On top of the federal rule, Rhode Island adds its own wage exemption: R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4 shields the first $50 of your earned but unpaid wages from attachment. The state also gives child support priority over other garnishments under R.I. Gen. Laws §10-5-8, so a support order is paid before an ordinary creditor reaches your paycheck. Wages tied to public assistance can be fully exempt as well. Because several of these protections have to be claimed rather than applied automatically, act quickly when you receive garnishment papers and confirm every figure against your pay stubs.
Common questions
How much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish in Rhode Island?
For an ordinary consumer judgment, Rhode Island follows the federal ceiling: 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 is left after taxes and other mandatory deductions.
What is the $50 wage exemption in Rhode Island?
Under R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4, the first $50 of your earned but unpaid wages is exempt from attachment. It is a separate protection layered on top of the federal disposable-earnings rule, so it shields a slice of your pay before the percentage limits are applied.
Does child support come before other garnishments in Rhode Island?
Yes. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §10-5-8, garnishment of wages is restricted to amounts not exempt, and child support has priority. A support order is satisfied before an ordinary consumer creditor can reach your pay, and support can also take a larger share than a consumer debt.
What is the $217.50 protected amount in Rhode Island?
It is the federal floor that Rhode Island applies: 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage equals $217.50 a week, which cannot be garnished at all. 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 garnish my Rhode Island wages?
The 25% ceiling and the $50 wage exemption cover ordinary consumer judgments. Child support, unpaid taxes, and defaulted federal student loans follow their own rules and can reach a larger share of your pay, and support is paid ahead of an ordinary creditor.
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.