💶 How much can a bailiff deduct from my salary?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends on how much you earn — a bailiff can take a fair amount, but not everything, and the '20 %' repeated online is already out of date. Under Article 736 of the Code of Civil Procedure, from 1 July 2024 the part of wages not exceeding the minimum monthly wage (MMA) is generally deducted at 10 % (or 30 % for maintenance, injury to health, or loss of a breadwinner). From the part above the MMA, 70 % is deducted. Until July 2024 the first part was deducted at 20 % — precisely the old figure that dated sources keep repeating. The key thing people miss: a debtor supporting incapable family members can file a written request with the bailiff and cut the deduction by 10 % for each dependant; and some income — certain benefits and compensation — cannot be recovered at all (Art 739).

📋 The rules

Since 2024-07-01 the part of wages up to the MMA is deducted at 10 % (Art 736 CPC)
For maintenance, injury to health or loss of a breadwinner, the part up to MMA is 30 %
From the part above the MMA, 70 % is deducted
Supporting incapable family members cuts the deduction by 10 % for each dependant, on request
Some income — certain benefits and compensation — cannot be recovered (Art 739 CPC)

🔓 Exceptions

Until 2024-07-01 the part up to the MMA was deducted at 20 % — old sources still repeat this figure
The dependant relief is applied by the bailiff only on the debtor's written request with evidence
Child benefits and some social and targeted payments fall outside recovery entirely

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The debt 'grows' not only from the deduction — enforcement costs are added too. On top of the main debt come the bailiff's enforcement costs and fee, so the final sum is larger than the original arrears. What people miss: a bailiff can seize not only wages but also bank accounts and property, yet must leave a share of income for living and cannot touch the sums listed as non-recoverable in Article 739. If the debt is recovered under several writs, the total deduction still cannot exceed the limits set by law. Hiding income or property only makes recovery more expensive and longer, and gives the bailiff more tools. So the most useful course is to cooperate: file the request for dependants, agree a payment schedule, and thus reduce the monthly burden and extra costs.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

How much can a bailiff deduct from wages?

Since 1 July 2024, the part of wages not exceeding the minimum wage is generally deducted at 10 percent, and the part above it at 70 percent. For maintenance or injury to health, the first part is deducted at 30 percent instead.

Is it true they deduct 20 percent?

Not any more — 20 percent was deducted from the part up to the minimum wage until 1 July 2024, and a 10 percent rate now applies. So the 20 percent figure repeated online and in older articles is already out of date.

Can I reduce the deduction because of children?

Yes, a debtor supporting incapable family members can file a written request with the bailiff and cut the deduction by 10 percent for each dependant. The relief is applied only once such a request is received, together with supporting evidence.

What income can a bailiff not touch?

Article 739 of the Code of Civil Procedure lists sums that cannot be recovered — among them certain social, targeted and child benefits. A bailiff must also leave part of the income for the debtor's essential living needs.

Are extra costs added to the debt?

Yes, besides the debt itself the debtor covers the bailiff's enforcement costs and fee, so the final sum is larger than the original arrears. Avoiding payment or hiding assets only makes recovery more expensive and drawn out.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“how much can a bailiff take from wages”
“bailiff deductions 2024”
“article 736 cpc deductions”
“can a bailiff leave the minimum wage”
“deduction for dependants bailiff”
“income a bailiff cannot touch”