Wage Garnishment in Nevada
Upsolve is a nonprofit that helps you eliminate your debt with our free bankruptcy filing tool. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. You could be debt-free in as little as 4 months. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University — so we’ll never ask you for a credit card. See if you qualify →
In Nevada, most creditors must sue you and win a court judgment before they can garnish your wages, though government debts like taxes or child support may follow different rules. Once the court approves the garnishment, your employer must withhold part of your paycheck. The amount depends on how much you earn and state law. Some income, like Social Security, unemployment, and child support you receive, is protected and can’t be garnished. Many people stop garnishment by paying the debt, settling with the creditor, or filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which can pause collections and wipe out certain debts.
Written by Upsolve Team.
Updated November 7, 2025
What Is Wage Garnishment?
Wage garnishment is when a creditor takes money directly from your paycheck to repay a debt. This usually happens after a creditor sues you and wins. Once the court issues a judgment, the creditor can ask the court to send a garnishment order to your employer.
Nevada law outlines the process and limits how much can be taken each pay period.
Who Can Garnish My Wages in Nevada?
Any creditor who wins a lawsuit against you can get an order to garnish your wages. Creditors could include a credit card company, medical provider, debt collector, or debt buyer.
Most creditors must get a judgment from a Nevada court first. If the judgment comes from another state, the creditor might have to go through extra steps before garnishing your wages in Nevada.
Upsolve Member Experiences
4,536+ Members Online
Nevada Wage Garnishment Process
The garnishment process starts with a lawsuit. If you’re sued, you’ll receive a summons and a complaint. The complaint explains the debt, and the summons tells you how long you have to respond.
💡 If you don’t respond in time, the court may automatically rule in favor of the creditor. This is called a default judgment. If you respond but lose the case, the court will still issue a judgment.
Once the creditor has a judgment, they can send a wage garnishment order to your employer, who will then be required to withhold a portion of your paycheck and send it to the creditor.
Garnishment can also apply to your bank account if the creditor gets a bank levy order instead.
If something seems wrong — for example, if you already paid the debt or the amount seems off — you can file an objection with the court. Many people also object if they’re already making payments or the garnishment creates a financial hardship.
⏳ In Nevada, wage garnishment orders only last for 180 days. If the debt isn’t fully paid off by then, the creditor must ask the court or sheriff to renew the order.
📌 If you want help responding to the debt lawsuit but you can't afford a lawyer, consider using SoloSuit, a trusted Upsolve partner. SoloSuit has helped over 300,000 people respond to debt lawsuits and settle debts for less.
SoloSuit is an affiliate partner, which means Upsolve may earn a small commission if you choose to use their paid service. This helps keep our services free.
How Much of My Paycheck Can Be Taken by Wage Garnishment?
Creditors can’t take all of your paycheck. Nevada law protects a portion of your income from wage garnishment. The protected amount depends on how much you earn before taxes.
🧮 Here’s how it works:
If you earn $770 or less per week before taxes, creditors can only take up to 18% of your disposable income. You keep at least 82% of your paycheck.
If you earn more than $770 per week, creditors can take up to 25% of your disposable income. You keep at least 75%.
No matter how much you make, creditors can’t take any amount that would leave you with less than $362.50 per week. That number is based on the federal minimum wage and may go up if the minimum wage changes.
👉 Nevada law uses the rule that protects you the most. Out of these three limits, only the smallest amount can be deducted from your paycheck.
What Income Can Be Garnished — and What Can’t?
Disposable income is the part of your paycheck left after taxes and other legally required deductions are taken out. Creditors can only garnish a portion of your disposable income — not your full earnings.
Some types of income are protected from garnishment entirely. These protections are called exemptions, and they stop creditors from taking certain non-wage income. In most cases, creditors can’t garnish:
Social Security benefits
Unemployment payments
Workers’ compensation
Child support or alimony you receive
Most retirement income
Nevada law also protects other benefits and income, similar to the protections you’d have if you filed for bankruptcy.
📌 You can learn more about how to claim exemptions from the Civil Law Self-Help Center.
How To Stop a Garnishment in Nevada
There are two main ways to stop a wage garnishment in Nevada.
First, you can pay off the debt, either all at once or through a payment plan. If you're able to pay a lump sum (for example, by selling property, using a tax refund, or taking out a low-interest loan), your creditor might be willing to accept less than the full amount owed. This is known as debt settlement.
Second, you can consider filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. When you file for Chapter 7, something called the automatic stay goes into effect right away. This legal protection temporarily stops most collection efforts, including wage garnishment, while the court reviews your case. If your case is successful, the underlying debt is usually discharged, which means you don’t have to repay it.
✨ If your case is simple, you may be able to file for free using Upsolve’s free filing tool. It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify.
Are There Any Resources for People Facing Wage Garnishment in Nevada?
If you’re struggling with debt and would like to speak with someone about your wage garnishment situation, you can reach out to a nonprofit legal aid organization.
The State Bar of Nevada’s Pro Bono Legal Services
The State of Nevada Self-Help site may also be useful if you’re seeking no-cost or low-cost legal assistance.
