Wage Garnishment Limits in Tennessee

At a glance

How the wage cap works

Tennessee caps an ordinary judgment creditor at the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal hourly minimum wage (§ 26-2-106(a)). Federal law uses the same two-part calculation (15 U.S.C. § 1673(a)). The current federal minimum is $7.25 (29 U.S.C. § 206(a)(1)(C)), so the base weekly protected amount is $217.50. Section 26-2-107(a) adds $2.50 of protection per qualifying child. For example, with $250 in disposable weekly pay and one qualifying child, the amount above the base floor is $32.50; the child allowance reduces the ordinary creditor's maximum take to $30. Section 26-2-107(b)–(c) makes the debtor responsible for informing the employer of the child; the extra allowance does not apply without that notice.

Different debts and competing writs

A child-support income assignment follows § 36-5-501(a)(1), which limits withholding to 50% of income after the named tax and child-health-premium deductions. Section 36-5-501(h) sets a comparable limit for alimony assignments. Federal support ceilings can reach 65% for certain overdue support (15 U.S.C. § 1673(b)). A Tennessee support assignment takes priority over ordinary wage garnishment under § 36-5-501(j)(1). The notice prescribed by § 26-2-216(b)(2) says no disposable earnings are exempt for state or federal tax judgments under the federal tax exception. Federal student-loan administrative withholding has its own 15% limit under 20 U.S.C. § 1095a(a)(1).

For ordinary judgment liens, the earlier lien has priority under § 26-2-214(b)(2). A later writ that itself deducts the lawful maximum cannot run concurrently for the six-month period; § 26-2-224(a) delays its start until the earlier judgment is satisfied, the earlier writ expires, or that writ is stayed. Section 26-2-214(b)(1) generally ends the earnings lien when the judgment is satisfied or the payment period immediately before six calendar months after service expires, whichever comes first; it can end sooner if the garnishee relationship ends or the judgment changes.

Employment protection

Section 26-2-214(c) leaves the underlying employer–employee relationship to other law. Federal law bars discharge because earnings were garnished for one debt (15 U.S.C. § 1674(a)). Tennessee separately bars discharge or discipline because of a support income assignment and makes specified violations a Class C misdemeanor (§ 36-5-501(i)).

What trips people up

The child allowance requires notice to the employer under § 26-2-107(b)–(c). The later-writ delay in § 26-2-224(a) turns on what the later writ deducts; the statute does not say that every second writ must wait simply because the first writ exists.

Common questions

Does the wage lien last until every creditor is paid? No. Section 26-2-214(b)(1) sets a six-calendar-month outer limit for the served writ, subject to earlier termination and the separate timing rule for a later maximum-amount writ.

Does a support assignment follow the ordinary 25% cap? No. Sections 36-5-501(a)(1) and (h) give child-support and alimony assignments separate 50% limits using the deductions specified there.

Statutes and sources

• T.C.A. § 26-2-106(a): “The maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subjected to garnishment may not exceed: (1) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the disposable earnings for that week; or (2) The amount by which the disposable earnings for that week exceed thirty (30) times the federal minimum hourly wage at the time the earnings for any pay period become due and payable, whichever is less.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-107(a): “To the above allowances, there shall be added as exempt to the judgment debtor the sum of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per week for each dependent child under sixteen (16) years of age and a resident of this state.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-107(b)–(c): “(b) It is the responsibility of the judgment debtor to inform the employer of each dependent child claimed under this section. (c) This section shall not apply if the debtor fails to so inform the employer.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-214(b): “A lien obtained under this section shall have priority over any subsequent liens obtained under this section.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-214(b)(1): “The lien shall continue as to subsequent earnings until the total amount due upon the judgment and costs is paid or satisfied, or until the expiration of the payment period immediately prior to six (6) calendar months after service of the execution, whichever occurs first. The lien on subsequent earnings shall terminate sooner if the relationship between judgment debtor and garnishee is terminated or if the underlying judgment is vacated or modified.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-214(c): “Nothing in this section with respect to the relationship between the judgment debtor and the garnishee shall be construed to affect the underlying relationship of the parties, including, but not limited to, the relationship of employer-employee or the independent contractor relationship as otherwise provided by law.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-224(a): “Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule to the contrary, a writ of garnishment that is filed later in time than another such writ, and which deducts the maximum amount allowable by law from the debtor's wages, shall not run concurrently with the earlier filed writ with regard to the six-month time limit prescribed in § 26-2-214. Such later filed writ of garnishment shall not begin to run until the earlier filed writ's judgment has been satisfied, such earlier filed writ has expired, or such earlier filed writ has been stayed by installment motion as prescribed in § 26-2-216.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 26-2-216(b)(2) (official notice): “If the judgment is for state or federal taxes, no disposable earnings are exempt under 15 U. S. C. § 1673(b).” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 36-5-501(a)(1): “Withholding shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the employee's income after FICA, withholding taxes, and a health insurance premium that covers the child, are deducted.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 36-5-501(h): “For any order of alimony in solido, in futuro or rehabilitative issued, modified or enforced on or after April 24, 2002, the court may order immediate assignment of the obligor's income, including, but not necessarily limited to: wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, disability, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, profit sharing, interest, annuities and other income due or to become due to the obligor. The order of assignment shall issue regardless of whether support payments are in arrears on the effective date of the order. The court's order may include an amount sufficient to satisfy an accumulative arrearage, if any, within a reasonable time. Withholding shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the employee's income after FICA, withholding taxes, and a health insurance premium that covers the child, if any, are deducted. The order shall also include an amount necessary to cover the fee due the clerk of the court, if appropriate.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 36-5-501(i): “It is unlawful for an employer to use the assignment as a basis for discharge or any disciplinary action against the employee. Compliance by an employer, other person, institution or corporation with the order shall operate as a discharge of the liability of such employer, other person, institution or corporation to the affected individual as to that portion of the income so affected. An employer shall be subject to a fine for a Class C misdemeanor if the income assignment is used as a basis to refuse to employ a person or to discharge the obligor/employee or for any disciplinary action against the obligor/employee or if the employer fails to withhold from the obligor's income or to pay such amounts to the clerk or to the department as may be directed by the withholding order.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• T.C.A. § 36-5-501(j)(1): “An assignment under this section shall take priority over any other assignment or garnishment of wages, as described in title 26, chapter 2, or salary, commissions or other income, except those deductions made mandatory by law or hereafter made mandatory.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• 15 U.S.C. § 1673(a): “Except as provided in subsection (b) and in section 1675 of this title, the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subjected to garnishment may not exceed (1) 25 per centum of his disposable earnings for that week, or (2) the amount by which his disposable earnings for that week exceed thirty times the Federal minimum hourly wage prescribed by section 206(a)(1) of title 29 in effect at the time the earnings are payable, whichever is less.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• 15 U.S.C. § 1673(b): “The maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subject to garnishment to enforce any order for the support of any person shall not exceed— (A) where such individual is supporting his spouse or dependent child (other than a spouse or child with respect to whose support such order is used), 50 per centum of such individual's disposable earnings for that week; and (B) where such individual is not supporting such a spouse or dependent child described in clause (A), 60 per centum of such individual's disposable earnings for that week; except that, with respect to the disposable earnings of any individual for any workweek, the 50 per centum specified in clause (A) shall be deemed to be 55 per centum and the 60 per centum specified in clause (B) shall be deemed to be 65 per centum, if and to the extent that such earnings are subject to garnishment to enforce a support order with respect to a period which is prior to the twelve-week period which ends with the beginning of such workweek.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• 29 U.S.C. § 206(a)(1)(C): “$7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day;” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• 20 U.S.C. § 1095a(a)(1): “the amount deducted for any pay period may not exceed 15 percent of disposable pay, except that a greater percentage may be deducted with the written consent of the individual involved” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).
• 15 U.S.C. § 1674: “No employer may discharge any employee by reason of the fact that his earnings have been subjected to garnishment for any one indebtedness. Whoever willfully violates subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.” Source (accessed 2026-10-07).