Can they garnish my whole salary?
No: there are precise limits, the whole salary can't be garnished. Salary (or pension) garnishment is limited by law. In general, a creditor can garnish at most a fifth (1/5) of the net salary. For debts to the collection agent (Revenue-Collection Agency) brackets apply: generally 1/10 for the lowest salaries, 1/7 for medium ones and 1/5 for the highest. With several creditors, the total garnishable generally can't exceed half the salary. When salary or pension is already credited to the bank account, the last credit is unseizable for the part equal to triple the social allowance (in 2026 about €1,638): only the excess is attachable, and generally by a fifth. Amounts due for maintenance have special protections.
📋 The rules
- Salary garnishable at most by a fifth (1/5) of the net
- Collection agent: brackets (1/10, 1/7, 1/5)
- Several creditors: the total generally doesn't exceed half
- Bank account: last credit unseizable up to triple the social allowance
- In 2026 the account threshold is about €1,638
🔓 Exceptions
- Maintenance amounts: own protections and rules
- Pensions: unseizable up to a minimum threshold (vital minimum), only the excess garnishable
- Debts of different kinds: limits that can combine within the maximums
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The garnishment limits are mandatory: a garnishment that exceeds the allowed shares or attacks unseizable amounts (the vital minimum, maintenance shares) is unlawful and you can object before the enforcement judge. For the bank account, it's essential to be able to prove the amounts come from salary or pension and when they were credited, to enforce the vital minimum's unseizability. If you're over-indebted, there are over-indebtedness crisis procedures (the "anti-suicide law") that can help restructure the debts. Facing a garnishment, it's wise to check the limits, keep payslips and account statements and, if needed, object with a lawyer's help.
📎 Official sources
- Normattiva · Civil Procedure Code (garnishment limits, art. 545) →
- Revenue-Collection Agency · Garnishments and protections →
- Ministry of Justice · Enforcement and over-indebtedness →
❓ Frequently asked
How much of the salary can be garnished?
In general, at most a fifth (1/5) of the net salary for each ordinary creditor. For debts to the collection agent, brackets apply (generally 1/10, 1/7 or 1/5 by amount). With several creditors, the total garnishable generally doesn't exceed half the salary.
Can they garnish money in my bank account?
Yes, but with limits. If salary or pension is already credited to the account, the last credit is unseizable for the part equal to triple the social allowance (in 2026 about 1,638 euros): only the excess is attachable. Amounts credited after the garnishment are garnished within the ordinary limits.
What is the unseizable vital minimum?
It's the share of income that can't be garnished, to ensure the debtor has enough to live on. For amounts in a bank account it's linked to triple the social allowance. For pensions there's a minimum unseizable threshold, beyond which only the excess can be garnished, generally by a fifth.
What do I do if the garnishment exceeds the limits?
You can object before the enforcement judge: a garnishment exceeding the allowed shares or attacking unseizable amounts is unlawful. Keep payslips and account statements to prove the origin and unseizability of the amounts, and get a lawyer's help.
I'm full of debts: are there solutions?
Yes. For the over-indebted there are over-indebtedness crisis procedures (the so-called "anti-suicide law"), which let you restructure or reduce debts under the judge's control. It's wise to turn to a crisis-resolution body or a professional.
🔎 Common searches
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