Can the bailiff take my whole salary?
They cannot — and this is the thing to know. The debtor must retain 50% of the minimum wage. Since the 2026 minimum wage is €780, the protected amount is €390. For each dependent minor it rises by a further 15% of the minimum wage — though the total increase for children may not exceed another 50% of the minimum wage. What is deducted: with one enforcement order, 30% of the net income exceeding the protected amount; with several at once, 40% of that excess. It is calculated on income after tax. Before any of this, the bailiff normally allows 10 days for voluntary compliance.
📋 The rules
- You keep 50% of the minimum wage — €390
- Per child: a further 15% of the minimum wage
- The total increase for children is capped at 50%
- One enforcement order: 30% of the excess
- Several orders: 40% of the excess
🔓 Exceptions
- State and municipal social benefits, maintenance received and victim compensation are protected
- Severance pay, funeral benefits and certain travel reimbursements are also exempt
- For an immediately enforceable judgment the voluntary period is at least three days, not ten
⚠️ Penalties & fines
But there is one thing you must do yourself. The protected amount does not by itself shield your bank account — if the salary lands in an account under attachment, the same income can be restricted twice. So identify your salary account to the bailiff and ask them to instruct the bank to preserve the appropriate sum in it. And do not go silent: a debtor who fails to give the required information about work, income or assets can be brought before the bailiff by force and fined up to €300; a responsible official, up to €600. These fines rose on 7 May 2026 from the previous €80 and €360. Knowingly false information can be referred to the prosecutor.
📎 Official sources
- likumi.lv · Civil Procedure Law →
- likumi.lv · Minimum wage regulation →
- LV portāls · Debt recovery reform →
❓ Frequently asked
How much must I be left?
At least 50% of the minimum wage, which in 2026 means €390. For each dependent minor the protected amount rises by a further 15% of the minimum wage, subject to the statutory cap.
What percentage is deducted?
With one enforcement order, 30% of the net income exceeding the protected amount. Where several enforcement orders run at once, 40% of that excess is deducted instead.
Is my bank account automatically protected?
It is not. Identify your salary account to the bailiff and ask them to instruct the bank to preserve the appropriate amount — otherwise the same income can end up restricted twice over.
What income is protected from enforcement?
State and municipal social benefits, maintenance you receive, compensation paid to crime victims, severance and funeral benefits, and certain work-related travel or relocation reimbursements.
What if I ignore the bailiff?
You can be brought before them by force and fined up to €300. That maximum rose on 7 May 2026 from the previous €80, so ignoring the process has become markedly more expensive.
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