Wage garnishment in Virginia
On these earnings, Virginia 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 |
| VirginiaVa. Code §34-29(A) | $200 |
The lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the excess over 40x the greater of the federal or Virginia minimum wage. At $12.77 that floor is $510.80 a week — Virginia uses 40x where federal law uses 30x.
the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek that is subjected to garnishment may not exceed the lesser of the following amounts: 1. Twenty-five percent of his disposable earnings for that week; or 2. The amount by which his disposable earnings for that week exceed 40 times the federal minimum hourly wage.
What this does not cover
- Virginia's "earnings" reaches independent-contractor payments and pension income, not only employee wages.
- §34-29(D) makes the exemption automatic — no claim is required, unlike Florida's.
- A second §34-29 takes effect 2027-07-01. It changes only the tax carve-out, not the 25%/40x rule; do not read it as a rate change.
Source: Virginia Law Library — Va. Code §34-29, read 2026-08-22. Minimum wage: Virginia Law Library — Va. Code §40.1-28.10.
Work out your own Virginia garnishment
Already set to Virginia. Enter your pay and this applies both limits — Virginia’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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Virginia garnishment: common questions
How much of my paycheck can be garnished in Virginia?
The lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the excess over 40x the greater of the federal or Virginia minimum wage. At $12.77 that floor is $510.80 a week — Virginia uses 40x where federal law uses 30x. 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 Virginia?
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 Virginia carves out further exceptions listed above.
How much can be garnished for a federal student loan in Virginia?
Virginia'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 Virginia'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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