Garnishment - Wyoming

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

The state of Wyoming has several statutes which address garnishment of wages.

State

Contact

Questions regarding a wage garnishment order should be directed to the court which issued the order.

Regulations

§1-15-408(b)(i) Maximum earnings subject to garnishment.

(b) The maximum portion of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual which are subject to garnishment is the lesser of:

(b)(i) Twenty five percent (25%) of defendant's disposable earnings for that week; or

(b)(ii) The amount by which defendant's aggregate disposable earnings computed for that week exceeds thirty (30) times the federal minimum hourly wage prescribed by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1), in effect at the time the earnings are payable, or, in case of earnings for any pay period other than a week, any equivalent multiple thereof prescribed by the administrator of the Wyoming Uniform Consumer Credit Code in the manner provided by W.S. 40 14 505(b)(iii).

§1-15-509 No discharge from employment for any garnishment.

Employers may not discharge an employee who has been subjected to garnishment or where garnishment has been attempted.

§20-6-212(c) Duties of the payor; administrative fee.

The payor may deduct and retain from the obligator’s remaining income five dollars ($5) for each payment made pursuant to garnishment.

§20-6-218 Penalties.

Payors who fail to withhold income pursuant to a garnishment notice is liable for any amount up to the amount that should have been withheld.

Federal

Contact

US Department of Labor

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.

29 CFR Part 870 (15 USC §1671)