Wage garnishment and exemptions in District of Columbia

Your paycheck and garnishment in District of Columbia

Wage limit

Stricter than federal: only the part of your weekly disposable wages above 40 times the D.C. minimum hourly wage can be reached, and only 25% of that part.

Head of household

Most D.C. property exemptions in § 15-501 are written for the head of a family or householder who lives or earns most of their living in D.C.

Law

D.C. Code § 16-572; § 15-501

Federal law caps garnishment at 25% of disposable earnings or less (15 U.S.C. 1673(a)); where District of Columbia's rule protects more, it applies.

In nearby states

• Maryland: Up to 25%
• Virginia: Up to 25%
• Delaware: Up to 15%
• Pennsylvania: Not for most consumer debts

District of Columbia exemptions for your home, car and belongings

• D.C. protects your interest in the home you live in (no dollar cap is stated in § 15-501(a)(14)), up to $2,575 in one motor vehicle, household goods up to $8,625 in total, and Social Security, veterans, disability and unemployment benefits (D.C. Code § 15-501(a)).

Bank accounts and garnishment in District of Columbia

Directly deposited Social Security, SSI, VA and certain other federal benefits are protected up to two months' worth, without filing anything (31 CFR 212.5, 212.6). Read the debt lawsuit guide.

The lawsuit comes first in District of Columbia

If you miss the hearing or the answer deadline, the collector can get a default judgment. Before entering judgment in a debt collection case, the court must check that the collector met D.C.'s filing rules, and it can dismiss the case if not (§ 28-3814(t)).

Answer the lawsuit by the deadline. In District of Columbia: Small Claims (up to $10,000): in most cases you do not have to file a written answer; you go to the hearing and tell the judge why you disagree.

What to do if you are sued in District of Columbia

Protecting your pay and property in District of Columbia

1. Watch for deadlines

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

2. Apply District of Columbia's wage rule

   District of Columbia's wage rule: Stricter than federal: only the part of your weekly disposable wages above 40 times the D.C. minimum hourly wage can be reached, and only 25% of that part. Most D.C. property exemptions in § 15-501 are written for the head of a family or householder who lives or earns most of their living in D.C.

3. Check your bank deposits

   Check that the bank protected your direct-deposited benefits (31 CFR 212.6).

4. File the exemption claim

   Ask the court clerk for the exemption claim form and file it by the deadline. Start with District of Columbia court self-help (official).

5. Get free help

   Free help in District of Columbia: D.C. Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection and D.C. Courts – Get Legal Help (Consumer Law Resource Center, Small Claims Resource Center).

Questions about garnishment in District of Columbia

Related District of Columbia pages

• All debt collection rights in District of Columbia
• Statute of limitations in District of Columbia: 3 years
• Sued by a debt collector in District of Columbia
• Debt collector laws in District of Columbia
• “Is my debt too old?” checker for District of Columbia
• Dispute a debt and ask for proof (validation letter)
• Tell a collector to stop or limit contact
• Wage garnishment limits by state
• Guide: sued by a debt collector