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Florida Wage Garnishment Calculator And The Head-of-Family Exemption

Eric Pemper, Founder of CuraDebtBy Eric Pemper, Founder of CuraDebtHelping people resolve unsecured, tax, and business debt since 2001 · BBB A+ accredited

Florida Wage Garnishment Calculator And The Head-of-Family Exemption

The short version for Florida
Florida has one of the strongest wage protections in the country. If you are the head of family, meaning you provide more than half the support for a child or other dependent, and your disposable earnings are $750 a week or less, your wages are fully exempt from garnishment for an ordinary debt. Above $750 a week, a head of family is still protected unless they agreed in writing to allow it. If you are not the head of family, Florida follows the federal rule of up to 25% of disposable earnings.

Check your Florida wage protection

Answer two quick questions to see how Florida's exemption applies to you. Nothing you enter is stored.

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To see how this looks for your own situation, you can request a free review of your options. It is informational and carries no obligation.or call 1-877-850-3328
On this pageThe Florida protection calculatorThe head-of-family exemptionIf you are not head of familySix months of bank protectionIf garnishment has startedFAQ

Florida's head-of-family exemption, in plain terms

The heart of Florida wage protection is Florida Statute 222.11. It says the disposable earnings of a head of family, defined as someone who provides more than half the support for a child or other dependent, are entirely exempt from garnishment when those earnings are $750 a week or less. Earnings above $750 a week stay protected too, unless the head of family has agreed in writing to permit the garnishment. That written-agreement detail is easy to overlook, and it appears more often than people expect, sometimes buried in the fine print of a loan.

If you are not the head of family

When the head-of-family exemption does not apply, Florida uses the federal standard from the Consumer Credit Protection Act: a creditor can take up to 25% of your disposable earnings, or the amount by which your weekly disposable pay exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is smaller. The calculator applies that rule automatically when you answer that you are not the head of family.

Six months of protection after payday

Florida adds a protection many states lack. Wages that are exempt under Section 222.11 keep that exemption for six months after they are deposited in a financial institution, as long as the funds can be traced and identified as earnings. Mixing them with other money does not automatically defeat the protection, though it makes tracing harder. It is a meaningful safeguard if a creditor tries to reach your bank account.

If a Florida garnishment is already in motion

If a creditor has started garnishment, you generally have a short window to file a claim of exemption with the court to assert the head-of-family protection. Beyond that, options can include negotiating a settlement to release the garnishment or resolving the underlying debt through a broader relief program. CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who counts as head of family in Florida?

Under Florida Statute 222.11, a head of family is a person who provides more than one-half of the support for a child or other dependent. That status is what unlocks the full wage exemption.

Are my wages fully protected in Florida?

If you are the head of family and your disposable earnings are $750 a week or less, yes, they are fully exempt for ordinary debts. Above $750 you are still protected unless you agreed in writing to allow garnishment.

What if I am not the head of family?

Then Florida follows the federal rule: up to 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount over 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. The calculator estimates it for you.

Does the protection continue after I get paid?

Yes. Exempt wages keep their protection for six months after they are deposited in a bank, as long as the funds can be traced and identified as earnings.

How do I claim the Florida head-of-family exemption?

You generally file a claim of exemption with the court within the short deadline stated in the garnishment paperwork. Because the timeline is tight, it is worth acting quickly.

Does CuraDebt calculate garnishment or give legal advice in Florida, and is it a law firm?

CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

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Related Resources

Educational tool, not advice. This calculator provides a general estimate for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Your actual outcome depends on facts this tool does not capture. CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches consumers with independent, licensed providers. CuraDebt is not a law firm and provides no legal or tax advice. Results vary.