How Much Is Protected
When a judgment creditor obtains a court order and seeks to garnish your wages, Arizona law sets a ceiling. The statute defines "disposable earnings" as whatever remains after mandatory withholdings required by law. That includes taxes, Social Security, and similar deductions. Pension payments, retirement program distributions, and deferred compensation also count.
The maximum part of the disposable earnings of a debtor for any workweek that is subject to process may not exceed ten percent of disposable earnings for that week or the amount by which disposable earnings for that week exceed sixty times the applicable minimum hourly wage in effect at the time the earnings are payable, whichever is less.
A.R.S. § 33-1131(B)The "whichever is less" language is key. It means lower-income earners keep a larger share of their paycheck. Under federal law and Arizona law, the garnishment cap uses whichever minimum wage is highest among federal, state, or local rates. Some people confuse this with 30 times the federal minimum wage, which is a different federal standard. Arizona's threshold is set at 60 times the applicable minimum wage.
When the Limits Change
Two situations override the standard 10% cap. For court orders for child support or spousal support, judgment creditors can take up to one-half of disposable earnings. That is a significant jump. It reflects the priority Arizona places on support payments to a spouse or child.
The exemptions provided in subsection B do not apply in the case of any order for the support of any person. In such case, one-half of the disposable earnings of a debtor for any pay period is exempt from process.
A.R.S. § 33-1131(C)The standard exemptions also do not apply to federal or state tax debts, or to orders from a federal bankruptcy court under Chapter 13. Debts like federal student loans from the Department of Education may follow their own collection rules.
How This Affects Families
For families working through estate planning, understanding wage garnishment limits matters. It affects how much income is actually available to cover living expenses. It also shapes the financial pressures beneficiaries or surviving family members may face after a death in the family.
If a surviving spouse inherits debts, knowing the garnishment limits helps them plan ahead. These protections are automatic under Arizona law. You do not need to file anything to claim them.