Start My Answer
loading...

Ohio Garnishment Laws — What They Say

Chloe Meltzer | December 02, 2022

Chloe-Meltzer
Legal Expert
Chloe Meltzer, MA

Chloe Meltzer is an experienced content writer specializing in legal content creation. She holds a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, complemented by a Master’s in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Are you being sued for an old debt in Ohio? Worried your wages are about to be garnished? Learn all about Ohio's wage garnishment laws and what you can do about your situation.

If you are living in the state of Ohio and suffering from debt, you might eventually be sued by a debt collector. In this instance, they will take you to court and work to obtain a judgment against you. If you do not answer the summons to appear in court, then a default judgment will be granted, and the debt collector may be allowed to pursue wage garnishment.

Wage garnishment can also be called wage attachment or wage withholding and is when a creditor can take money directly out of your paycheck before it is paid out to you. Your employer is notified and it can not only be embarrassing but also frustrating to get paid less. Wage garnishment is governed by federal law, but also by a state limit.

Ohio only allows creditors to take 25% of your wages, but there are a few exceptions. For example, all creditors may not need to go to court when it comes to cases of child support or income taxes, and these can also exceed 25% of your wages.

Protect your wages from debt collectors by filing a response with SoloSuit.

When a creditor can garnish your wages

Wage garnishment is a court order that requires your employer to withhold funds from your paycheck. This money would go to the creditor to whom you owe money.

Contrary to what some might think, creditors, are not able to simply garnish your wages when you fall behind on payments. Instead, a collection lawsuit must be filed with the local court, and then they must win a judgment against you that states you lost your case, and that you are responsible.

There are a few exceptions to the rule of needing a judgment to garnish wages. In the state of Ohio these include the following:

  • Income taxes
  • Court-ordered child support
  • Defaulted student loans

There is a limit to how much of your wages can be garnished

The federal law sets limits to how much of your wages may be garnished each paycheck. In the state of Ohio, it is the same as federal law. The limit to how much of your wages may be garnished is either 25% of your disposable earnings, or less than 30 times the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour/$217.50 per week. An exception to this is if the disposable earnings are more than $217.50 per week but less than $290, where the creditor is entitled to any amount over $217.50.

Disposable earnings are considered the balances left over after taxes and mandatory deductions are taken out. Voluntary deductions are considered income put towards health and life insurance. These expenses do not reduce disposable earnings.

For example, if you make $1000 per month after taxes and mandatory deductions are taken off, then 25% of your disposable income would be $250. This means that $250 can be taken for garnishment. When it comes to disposable earnings less than 30 times the federal minimum wage, it would mean that this amount would be $782.50. Your employer is only able to send the amount that is less, which would be the first option, only $250 of your weekly pay.

Use SoloSuit to keep your wages from being garnished.

Exceptions to wage garnishment

As mentioned, if you owe child support, student loans, or taxes, then your wages can be garnished without ever being summoned to court. The rules that govern this type of wage garnishment are different as well.

  • Child support: Up to 50% of your disposable earnings can be garnished under federal law when it comes to child support for a spouse or a child. If it is not for a spouse or child, up to 60% of your earnings may be taken. They may take five percent more if you are paying support payments over 12 weeks in arrears.
  • Defaulted student loans: Administrative garnishment can be used up to 15% of your disposable income without a judgment.
  • Unpaid taxes: The government can deduct back taxes from your wages without ever stepping foot in a courtroom.

It is important to know that it may be somewhat of a pain for your employer to comply with wage garnishment orders. Despite this, legally, under Ohio law, you cannot be fired for one wage garnishment in 12 months. If you end up having two or more wage garnishment orders, then you can be let go.

Try to prevent another wage garnishment before it happens. Stay up to date on your bills, and pay child support, student loans, or unpaid taxes to avoid wage garnishment without a judgment.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

How it works: SoloSuit is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your answer. Upon completion, you can either print the completed forms and mail in the hard copies to the courts or you can pay SoloSuit to file it for you and to have an attorney review the document.

Respond with SoloSuit

Get Started

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Get debt relief in your state

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

Other wage garnishment resources

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

Other debt settlement resources

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

How to repair and improve your credit score

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt.

How to resolve student loan debt

Struggling with student debt? SoloSuit’s got you covered. Below are resources on handling student loan debt.

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

How-to debt guides

Learn more with these additional debt resources

It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.


"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather



Get Started


Contents