...
Summary of differences between federal and state regulations
The state of Georgia has no codes or statutes specific to garnishment. Follow the federal rule in this matter.
State
Contact
Questions regarding a wage garnishment order should be directed to the court which issued the order.
Regulations
Code of Georgia, Title 18, Chapter 4, section 18-4-5
The maximum part of disposable earnings for any work week which is subject to garnishment shall not exceed the lesser of:
(A) Twenty-five percent of the defendant's disposable earnings for that week; or
(B) The amount by which the defendant's disposable earnings for that week exceed $217.00.
In case of earnings for a period other than a week, a multiple of $7.25 per hour shall be used.
This limitation on garnishment set shall apply although the garnishee may receive a summons of garnishment in more than one garnishment case naming the same defendant unless the garnishee has received a summons of continuing garnishment for support.
No employer shall discharge an employee by reason of the fact that such employee's earnings have been subjected to garnishment for any one obligation, even though more than one summons of garnishment may be served upon such employer with respect to the obligation.
(a) A parent responsible for child support payments may make an assignment of a portion of his wages to the department in order to fulfill his obligations under this article. The employer shall recognize and comply with any wage assignment executed for the purpose of meeting child support obligations and the wage assignment shall be enforceable.
(b) Employers may not terminate the services of an employed parent who executes a wage assignment for child support purposes, solely because of the assignment.
(c) In addition to other remedies provided at law, courts may require wage assignments, if accepted by the employer, as a condition of probation or at such other times as appropriate to ensure the regular availability of support to a dependent child.
(d) The payor may collect up to $25.00 against the obligor’s income to reimburse the payor for administrative costs for the first income deduction and up to $3.00 for each deduction thereafter.
Federal
Contact
www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/garnishments
Regulations
Federal law limits the amount of wages that can be garnished, in most cases, to 25 percent of weekly earnings after taxes. If more that one garnishment order exists against an individual, the total amount cannot exceed the maximum set by law. Some government obligations, such as back taxes and child support, always have precedence.