Facing Wage Garnishment? Know Your Job Protection Rights

If you’ve just received notice that your wages will be garnished, you’re likely worried about more than just the financial impact—you might be wondering if your job is at risk too. The good news is that Maryland law provides important protections for employees facing wage garnishment, preventing employers from firing workers simply because their wages are being garnished for a single debt. However, these protections have specific limits and understanding them is crucial to safeguarding both your income and your employment.

Wage garnishment can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re concerned about losing your job on top of dealing with debt. Many employees in Baltimore don’t realize they have legal protections against termination when creditors garnish their wages. Whether you’re dealing with credit card debt, medical bills, or other financial obligations, knowing your rights under both federal and Maryland state law can make a significant difference in how you handle this challenging situation.

💡 Pro Tip: Document everything related to your wage garnishment, including the date you were notified, the debt amount, and any communications with your employer about the garnishment. This documentation could be crucial if you face any employment issues.

Protect your rights and secure your future today by connecting with the dedicated team at Sanchez Garrison & Associates, LLC. Don’t let wage garnishment woes weigh heavy on your mind—give us a ring at 443-945-2057 or contact us directly to explore how we can assist you in fortifying your employment and financial stability.

Maryland Law Protects Your Job When Wages Are Garnished

Under Maryland Commercial Law §15-606, your employer cannot fire you because your wages are being garnished for any one debt within a calendar year. This protection is similar to federal law under Title III of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), which prohibits employers from discharging employees whose earnings have been garnished for a single debt. The key word here is "one"—if you have multiple wage garnishments from different creditors, these protections may not apply, and consulting with a wage garnishment lawyer in Baltimore becomes even more critical.

Maryland takes employee protection seriously when it comes to wage garnishment. Any employer who willfully violates this law faces criminal penalties, including a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. This means your employer has a strong legal incentive to comply with the law and cannot simply terminate you to avoid the hassle of processing wage garnishments. The state recognizes that losing your job would only make your financial situation worse and works to prevent this additional hardship.

Beyond job protection, Maryland law also limits how much can be garnished from your paycheck. Creditors cannot take more than 25% of your disposable earnings per pay period, and if you earn near minimum wage, you must be left with at least 30 times the Maryland minimum hourly wage. These limits ensure you can still meet basic living expenses while paying down your debt. A wage garnishment lawyer in Baltimore can help you understand if the garnishment amount exceeds legal limits and assist in seeking adjustments if necessary.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep track of your pay stubs before and after garnishment begins. If more than 25% of your disposable income is being garnished, you may have grounds to challenge the garnishment amount.

Understanding the Wage Garnishment Process in Maryland

The wage garnishment process in Maryland follows specific steps and timelines that both employers and employees must understand. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare and protect your rights throughout the process. Most importantly, remember that your employer is legally required to comply with the garnishment order and cannot take adverse employment action against you for a single garnishment.

• Court judgment is obtained: Before wages can be garnished, a creditor must win a lawsuit and obtain a judgment against you (Maryland judgments last 12 years and can be renewed)
• Writ of garnishment is issued: The creditor files for a writ of garnishment with the court, which is then served on your employer
• Employer notification: Your employer has 30 days to respond to the garnishment order and begin withholding wages
• Employee notification: You must receive notice of the garnishment and information about your rights to object or claim exemptions
• Monthly reporting requirement: Once garnishment begins, the creditor must send you a statement of payments within 15 days after the end of each month
• Exemption opportunities: You have 30 days from service to file for additional exemptions beyond the automatic $500 bank account protection

💡 Pro Tip: Mark your calendar for the 30-day deadline to claim exemptions. Missing this deadline could mean losing the opportunity to protect additional assets or income from garnishment.

Protecting Your Job and Rights with Legal Guidance

When facing wage garnishment, understanding your rights is just the first step—taking action to protect those rights is equally important. If your employer threatens termination or takes any adverse action because of a wage garnishment, you need to act quickly. Maryland wage deduction laws provide clear protections, but enforcing them sometimes requires legal intervention. The experienced attorneys at Sanchez Garrison & Associates, LLC understand the complexities of wage garnishment law and can help ensure your employer follows both state and federal requirements.

Many employees don’t realize they have options beyond simply accepting wage garnishment. Depending on your circumstances, you might qualify for exemptions that reduce or eliminate the garnishment, especially if you’re supporting a family or facing financial hardship. A wage garnishment lawyer in Baltimore can review your situation, identify potential exemptions, and help negotiate with creditors to find more manageable payment arrangements. Sometimes, bankruptcy or debt settlement might be better alternatives to ongoing wage garnishment.

If you believe your employer has violated your rights or you’re facing multiple garnishments that threaten your job security, don’t wait to seek help. The sooner you understand your options, the better positioned you’ll be to protect both your employment and your financial future. Remember, creditors must follow specific procedures, and any deviation from these requirements could provide grounds for challenging the garnishment or seeking damages for wrongful termination.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep all garnishment-related documents organized in one place, including court papers, employer communications, and payment records. This documentation is essential if you need to challenge the garnishment or prove wrongful termination.

When Job Protection Ends: Multiple Garnishments and Other Exceptions

While Maryland law protects you from termination for one wage garnishment, this protection has important limitations. If your wages are garnished for a second or subsequent debt within the same calendar year, you lose the statutory protection against discharge. This makes it crucial to address debt problems comprehensively rather than letting multiple creditors obtain judgments. A wage garnishment lawyer in Baltimore can help you develop strategies to prevent multiple garnishments and maintain your job protection.

Understanding the Calendar Year Reset

The protection under Maryland Commercial Law §15-606 operates on a calendar year basis, meaning it resets every January 1st. If you had a garnishment in 2024 that ended, and face a new garnishment in 2025, you’re protected again for that first garnishment of the new year. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore debt problems—multiple creditors often act simultaneously, and once a second garnishment hits, your job protection disappears. Strategic debt management becomes essential to maintaining employment security.

💡 Pro Tip: If you know multiple creditors are pursuing judgments, consider proactive debt consolidation or settlement before additional garnishments can threaten your job security.

Special Garnishment Rules for Child Support and Tax Debts

Not all garnishments are created equal under Maryland law. Child support and spousal support garnishments follow different rules than consumer debt garnishments, with higher allowable garnishment percentages—up to 50% or 60% of disposable earnings depending on whether you’re supporting another spouse or child. Additionally, if support payments are more than 12 weeks overdue, an extra 5% can be garnished. These higher limits reflect the priority given to family support obligations, and employers generally cannot terminate employees for these types of garnishments regardless of how many exist.

Federal and State Tax Garnishments

Tax-related garnishments also operate under special rules. The IRS can garnish wages without first obtaining a court judgment, and the amount exempt from levy depends on your filing status and number of dependents. If you don’t verify your deductions and dependents, the IRS defaults to calculating exemptions based on married filing separately with one personal exemption, potentially increasing the garnishment amount. State and local governments in Maryland can also garnish wages for unpaid taxes, following similar expedited procedures that bypass traditional court judgments.

💡 Pro Tip: If facing tax garnishment, immediately provide your employer with accurate filing status and dependent information to maximize your exempt amount and keep more of your paycheck.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Concerns About Wage Garnishment and Employment

Understanding wage garnishment can be complex, and many employees have similar questions about their rights and protections. These answers address the most common concerns we hear from clients facing garnishment in Baltimore and throughout Maryland.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t assume your situation is hopeless—many garnishment issues have solutions, but you need to act quickly to preserve your rights and options.

Taking Action to Protect Your Job and Income

Knowledge is power when facing wage garnishment, but taking appropriate action is what truly protects your rights. Whether you need to challenge an excessive garnishment, claim exemptions, or address employer retaliation, understanding the process helps you make informed decisions.

💡 Pro Tip: Many attorneys offer free consultations for wage garnishment cases—take advantage of this opportunity to understand your specific situation and options.

1. Can my Baltimore employer fire me if I have just one wage garnishment in 2025?

No, your employer cannot legally fire you for having one wage garnishment within a calendar year. Both federal law and Maryland Commercial Law §15-606 specifically prohibit employers from discharging employees because their wages are garnished for a single debt. If your employer threatens or attempts to fire you for one garnishment, they face criminal penalties including fines up to $1,000 and potential imprisonment.

2. What happens if I get a second wage garnishment while working in Maryland?

Unfortunately, job protection under Maryland wage garnishment laws only covers the first garnishment within a calendar year. If you receive a second garnishment for a different debt, your employer can legally terminate you, though they must still have legitimate business reasons beyond just the inconvenience of processing garnishments. This makes it crucial to address all debt issues comprehensively to avoid multiple garnishments.

3. How much of my paycheck can be garnished under Maryland wage garnishment laws?

Maryland limits wage garnishment to 25% of your disposable earnings (income after taxes and mandatory deductions) per pay period. Additionally, if you earn near minimum wage, the garnishment cannot leave you with less than 30 times the Maryland minimum hourly wage per week. For child support, these limits increase to 50-60% of disposable earnings, with an additional 5% possible if payments are over 12 weeks overdue.

4. What should I do if my employer fires me after receiving a wage garnishment order?

Document everything immediately, including the date of termination, any reasons given, and all communications about the garnishment. Contact a wage garnishment lawyer in Baltimore right away, as you may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim. Your employer faces criminal penalties for violating Maryland Commercial Law §15-606, and you may be entitled to reinstatement, back pay, and other damages.

5. How long does wage garnishment last in Maryland, and can it be stopped?

Wage garnishment continues until the debt is paid in full or the judgment expires. Maryland judgments last 12 years and can be renewed for another 12 years. However, garnishment can be stopped or modified through bankruptcy, payment arrangements with creditors, or by claiming applicable exemptions. Each month, creditors must send you a statement showing payments credited toward the judgment, helping you track progress toward satisfaction.

Work with a Trusted Wage Garnishment Lawyer

Facing wage garnishment doesn’t mean facing it alone. Understanding your rights under Maryland law is essential, but having experienced legal guidance can make the difference between keeping your job and facing wrongful termination. The attorneys at Sanchez Garrison & Associates, LLC have extensive experience helping Baltimore residents navigate wage garnishment issues, from preventing multiple garnishments to challenging employer retaliation. Don’t let wage garnishment threaten your livelihood—contact a wage garnishment lawyer in Baltimore who understands both your legal protections and the strategies that can help preserve your employment while addressing your debt.

Don’t let the complexities of wage garnishment keep you up at night. Connect with Sanchez Garrison & Associates, LLC for a path to peace of mind. Dial 443-945-2057 or contact us today to stabilize your financial future and protect your job from unwarranted threats.