Wage Garnishment Calculator Missouri

Garnishment Formula:

\[ Garnishment = \min(25\% \times \text{Disposable Earnings}, \text{Disposable Earnings} - 30 \times \text{Federal Min Wage / Week}) \]

Garnishment Amount:

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1. What is Wage Garnishment in Missouri?

Wage garnishment in Missouri is a legal procedure where a portion of an employee's earnings is withheld by their employer for the payment of a debt. Missouri follows federal guidelines but also has specific state provisions that protect certain amounts of income from garnishment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Missouri garnishment formula:

\[ Garnishment = \min(25\% \times \text{Disposable Earnings}, \text{Disposable Earnings} - 30 \times \text{Federal Min Wage / Week}) \]

Where:

Disposable Earnings — Earnings after legally required deductions
Federal Minimum Wage — Current federal minimum wage rate
25% — Maximum percentage that can be garnished from disposable earnings
30 × Federal Min Wage — Protected amount based on minimum wage

Explanation: The formula calculates the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount that exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage per week.

3. Importance of Garnishment Calculation

Details: Accurate garnishment calculation ensures compliance with both federal and Missouri state laws, protects debtors from excessive garnishment, and helps creditors recover debts legally.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter disposable earnings in USD/week and the current federal minimum wage in USD/hour. The calculator will determine the maximum allowable garnishment amount according to Missouri law.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are disposable earnings?
A: Disposable earnings are the amount remaining after deducting taxes, Social Security, and other legally required deductions from gross earnings.

Q2: Are there different rules for different types of debt?
A: Yes, child support, alimony, tax debts, and student loans may have different garnishment rules and higher percentage limits.

Q3: What is protected from garnishment in Missouri?
A: Missouri law protects the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30 times the federal minimum wage per week from garnishment.

Q4: How often can wages be garnished?
A: Garnishment continues until the debt is paid in full or otherwise resolved, with each pay period subject to the calculation.

Q5: Can employers charge fees for processing garnishments?
A: Missouri allows employers to deduct a small administrative fee from the employee's earnings for processing garnishment orders.