Wage garnishment and exemptions in California

In California, a creditor can take no more than 20% of your pay. Plus what a creditor can't touch in your bank account and what property you keep.

Short answer

California sets a lower limit than federal law: no more than 20% of your pay. A creditor can take no more than the lesser of 20% of your weekly disposable earnings, or 40% of the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 48 times the state minimum hourly wage (or the local minimum wage, if higher where you work). You can ask for more to be protected with a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006). In a bank account: Money in your bank accounts up to the state's "minimum basic standard of adequate care" for a family of four (Region 1) is protected automatically, per person.

Wage limit
Up to 20%
Federal benefits in a bank account
Up to 2 months protected
Law
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 706.050, 704.220

How much of your pay can be garnished in California

Wage limit
Stricter than federal. A creditor can take no more than the lesser of 20% of your weekly disposable earnings, or 40% of the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 48 times the state minimum hourly wage (or the local minimum wage, if higher where you work). You can ask for more to be protected with a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006).
Head of household
No fixed head-of-household amount. You can file a Claim of Exemption to keep pay you need to support yourself and your family.
Law
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 706.050, 704.220

Only 20 of the 48 states we cover cap garnishment at 20% or less; California is one (federal cap: 25%, 15 U.S.C. 1673(a)).

In nearby states

Money in your bank account in California

Money in your bank accounts up to the state's "minimum basic standard of adequate care" for a family of four (Region 1) is protected automatically, per person. The courts list this as $2,325, effective July 1, 2026 (adjusted every July 1) (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.220; Judicial Council form EJ-156).

Two months of federal benefits paid by direct deposit are off-limits to a garnishment, and the bank applies this on its own (31 CFR 212.5, 212.6). More in our guide to debt lawsuits.

What creditors can't take in California

  • Homestead: the greater of $300,000 or your county's median home sale price from the prior year, capped at $600,000, both adjusted yearly for inflation (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.730).
  • Vehicles: $8,625 of equity, effective April 1, 2025 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.010; form EJ-156).

Also in California

  • AB 2837 (2024) amended the automatic bank-account exemption (CCP § 704.220), effective Jan. 1, 2025.

No garnishment without a judgment in California

If you don't respond in 30 days, the plaintiff can ask the court to enter your default and give it what it asked for. That can lead to garnishment of your wages and the taking of money or property (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(4)).

If you are sued, answer on time. In California: 30 days after you are served with the summons, to file a written response (Superior Court, including limited civil cases).

What to do if you are sued in California

Protecting your pay and property in California

  1. Read every notice

    Exemption deadlines on court, employer or bank papers can be short, so mark them at once.

  2. Apply California's wage rule

    California's wage rule: A creditor can take no more than the lesser of 20% of your weekly disposable earnings, or 40% of the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 48 times the state minimum hourly wage (or the local minimum wage, if higher where you work). No fixed head-of-household amount. You can file a Claim of Exemption to keep pay you need to support yourself and your family.

  3. Look at your bank account

    California also protects money in an account: Money in your bank accounts up to the state's "minimum basic standard of adequate care" for a family of four (Region 1) is protected automatically, per person. Federal benefits paid by direct deposit are protected too (31 CFR 212.6).

  4. Ask the court to protect your money

    Get the exemption claim form from the clerk and file it in time. Start with California court self-help (official).

Questions about garnishment in California

What is the wage garnishment limit in California?

Stricter than federal. A creditor can take no more than the lesser of 20% of your weekly disposable earnings, or 40% of the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 48 times the state minimum hourly wage (or the local minimum wage, if higher where you work). You can ask for more to be protected with a Claim of Exemption (form WG-006).

Is money in my bank account protected in California?

Money in your bank accounts up to the state's "minimum basic standard of adequate care" for a family of four (Region 1) is protected automatically, per person. The courts list this as $2,325, effective July 1, 2026 (adjusted every July 1) (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.220; Judicial Council form EJ-156).

Is there a head-of-household exemption in California?

No fixed head-of-household amount. You can file a Claim of Exemption to keep pay you need to support yourself and your family.

What are California's property exemptions?

Homestead: the greater of $300,000 or your county's median home sale price from the prior year, capped at $600,000, both adjusted yearly for inflation (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.730). Vehicles: $8,625 of equity, effective April 1, 2025 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.010; form EJ-156).

Are my Social Security and VA benefits safe in a California bank account?

Two months of federal benefits paid by direct deposit are off-limits to a garnishment, and the bank applies this on its own (31 CFR 212.5, 212.6). Money in your bank accounts up to the state's "minimum basic standard of adequate care" for a family of four (Region 1) is protected automatically, per person.

Keep reading about California

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources