Wage Garnishment and Bankruptcy in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Wage-garnishment limits are state-specific. Bankruptcy can also change the timing by triggering the automatic stay once a case is filed.
Use the jurisdiction page to estimate the wage limit, then review bankruptcy options if a judgment or garnishment is active.
Choose the calculator tied to the garnishment
The right page depends on the court and employer location connected to the wage order. If bankruptcy is being considered, review the state hub and means-test page too.
Washington DC
Consumer-debt wage attachment uses a DC minimum-wage floor.
Use calculatorMaryland
Consumer-debt wage garnishment has a state wage floor and medical-insurance protection.
Use calculatorVirginia
Ordinary creditor garnishment uses the federal percentage cap and Virginia wage-floor rules.
Use calculatorHow wage-garnishment review changes by jurisdiction
The comparison below routes you to the correct calculator. Each calculator owns the current formula, sources, and assumptions for that jurisdiction.
| Question | DC | Maryland | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wage-garnishment posture | Consumer-debt wage attachment uses a DC minimum-wage floor. | Consumer-debt wage garnishment has a state wage floor and medical-insurance protection. | Ordinary creditor garnishment uses the federal percentage cap and Virginia wage-floor rules. |
| Court / venue context | U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia | U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland | Eastern or Western District of Virginia, depending on venue. |
| Related exemption issue | Can elect DC or federal exemptions. | Uses Maryland exemptions rather than the federal bankruptcy exemption set. | Uses Virginia exemptions; exact protection turns on title, equity, and exemption category. |
Can an employer fire someone because wages are garnished?
Federal law bars an employer from firing a worker because pay was garnished for one debt. More than one order collecting that same debt still counts as one debt. The federal rule may not protect a worker whose pay is garnished for a second debt. The number of debts, not the number of orders, is what matters.
Sources: 15 U.S.C. § 1674 and the U.S. Department of Labor’s CCPA guidance. State law may provide additional protection.
Connect eligibility, assets, and collections
These topics usually overlap. Chapter choice, plan affordability, property protection, and active collections all need to be checked together.
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13
Compare the main consumer bankruptcy chapters before choosing a filing path.
Compare chaptersBankruptcy cost
Review filing fees, course costs, attorney-fee factors, and local Chapter 13 fee-review references.
Review costsChapter 13 payment calculator
Estimate a Chapter 13 plan payment using arrears, priority debts, unsecured-debt targets, and trustee administration.
Estimate paymentStop foreclosure
Review bankruptcy timing, Chapter 13 feasibility, and DC/MD/VA foreclosure process issues.
Review foreclosure optionsBankruptcy and security clearance
Plan bankruptcy documents, disclosure consistency, and debt-resolution records for clearance-sensitive work.
Review clearance planningChapter 7 means test
Screen income and household size before deciding whether Chapter 7 is realistic.
Review means testBankruptcy exemptions
Check what property may be protected in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
Compare exemptionsWage garnishment
Estimate paycheck exposure and review how filing may affect collections.
Need help choosing the right resource?
If you are unsure whether income, property, or an active collection issue matters most, start with the main bankruptcy guide or schedule a consultation.