Garnishment Calc
Uses the federal limit Verified

Montana Wage Garnishment Calculator

Montana adopts the federal limit and the federal definitions of earnings and disposable earnings.

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Montana borrows federal definitions

the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of a judgment debtor for any workweek that is subjected to garnishment may not exceed the lesser of: (a) the amount by which the debtor’s disposable earnings for the week exceed 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage … or (b) 25% of the debtor’s disposable earnings for that week.
Mont. Code Ann. § 25-13-614§1

A Billings semimonthly paycheck

A Billings worker paid $1,750.00 twice a month with $230.00 withheld has $1,520.00 disposable under the federal definition Montana adopts. One quarter, $380.00, is the most a judgment creditor can take; the $471.25 semimonthly floor only matters for checks under about $628.33.

Support orders and the state minimum wage

  1. Montana defines earnings, disposable earnings and garnishment by reference to 15 U.S.C. § 1672, so the same paycheck items count in state and federal court.§1
  2. Support garnishments may reach 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, rising to 55% or 65% for arrears older than 12 weeks.§1
  3. Montana’s $10.85 minimum wage is higher than federal, but the garnishment floor still uses $7.25.§2
  1. Mont. Code Ann. § 25-13-614 (MCA as published)
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws
  3. 15 U.S.C. § 1673