Wage garnishment in Rhode Island
On these earnings, Rhode Island caps ordinary garnishment at $200 a week. Figures assume $1,000 gross and $800 disposable earnings in a week, for ordinary consumer debt.
| Limit | Weekly maximum |
|---|---|
| Federal (Title III)15 U.S.C. §1673 | $200 |
| Rhode IslandR.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4(8)(iii) | $200 |
Rhode Island sets NO percentage cap and exempts only $50 a week, which is far less than federal law protects — so the federal limit governs in practice.
The salary or wages due or payable to any other debtor, not exceeding the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00).
What this does not cover
- Recorded here so that Rhode Island is not confused with a state nobody has read. Its own exemption is weaker than federal law, so the federal limit binds.
- The $50 is §9-26-4(8)(iii), the residual clause. Sub-clauses (i) and (ii) are far broader — they exempt the ENTIRE wages of a debtor paid from a public charitable fund, and of a debtor who has been the object of public relief, for a year after that relief ends. Neither is expressible as a cap and neither is modelled here.
- §9-26-4(9) separately exempts the salary and wages of a debtor's spouse and minor children.
- webserver.rilegislature.gov refused connections from this environment on both schemes, so the text was read through the r.jina.ai proxy rung of the research ladder. The canonical URL is recorded rather than the proxy's.
Source: Rhode Island General Assembly — R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4, read 2026-08-22.
Work out your own Rhode Island garnishment
Already set to Rhode Island. Enter your pay and this applies both limits — Rhode Island’s and the federal one — and shows whichever binds. Disposable earnings are computed for you, so a voluntary deduction cannot quietly shrink the garnishment base.
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Rhode Island garnishment: common questions
How much of my paycheck can be garnished in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island sets NO percentage cap and exempts only $50 a week, which is far less than federal law protects — so the federal limit governs in practice. On $1,000 gross and $800 disposable earnings a week, that works out to $200. Federal law alone would allow $200.
Do these limits cover child support or back taxes in Rhode Island?
No. Every figure here is for ORDINARY consumer debt. Child support and alimony carry their own, much higher federal limits — 50% to 65% of disposable earnings depending on whether you support another family and how far in arrears you are. Tax levies and bankruptcy orders are separate again, and Rhode Island carves out further exceptions listed above.
How much can be garnished for a federal student loan in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's limit above does not apply. A defaulted federal student loan can be collected by administrative wage garnishment without a court judgment, "notwithstanding any provision of State law" (31 U.S.C. §3720D). The most it can take is 15% of disposable pay, and never so much that you keep less than 30 times the federal minimum wage — $217.50 a week (34 C.F.R. §34.19). On $800 of disposable earnings a week that is $120. Private student loans are different: they are ordinary consumer debt, need a court judgment first, and follow Rhode Island's limit.
What counts as disposable earnings?
Under federal law it is gross pay minus deductions REQUIRED by law: income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and legally mandated retirement. A voluntary deduction does not reduce disposable earnings even though it reduces take-home pay — a 401(k), health premium, HSA or union dues do not shrink what can be garnished.
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