Wage & Bank Account Protections by State

Texas maintains the nation's strictest wage garnishment protections. Current wages for personal service are NEVER subject to garnishment for consumer debts. Wages deposited into a bank account remain protected if they can be traced back to personal earnings.

Texas Constitution Article XVI, § 28; Texas Property Code Ann. § 42.001(b)(1)

Pennsylvania generally bars post-judgment wage attachment for consumer debts, limiting garnishment strictly to child support, board/lodging, student loans, or restitution.

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8127

Earnings for personal services cannot be subjected to execution or garnishment if earned within sixty days preceding the order, provided those earnings are necessary for family support.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-362

South Carolina strictly prohibits garnishing earnings for personal services to satisfy general consumer credit obligations.

S.C. Code Ann. § 37-5-104; S.C. Code Ann. § 15-39-410

New York provides an automatic statutory exemption for bank accounts containing earned compensation or direct-deposited wages.

N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 5222-a and § 5205(l)

California provides an automatic, self-executing statutory exemption for direct-deposited wages and earnings in deposit accounts.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.070 (Traceable paid earnings); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.080 (Deposit accounts)

Florida protects the earnings of a head of family up to $750 per week entirely from garnishment.

Fla. Stat. § 222.11