1. What is Wage Garnishment in TN?

Wage garnishment in Tennessee is a legal process where a portion of an employee's earnings is withheld by an employer for the payment of a debt. Tennessee law provides specific exemptions to protect a portion of disposable earnings from garnishment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Tennessee garnishment formula:

Where:

• Disposable — Earnings after legally required deductions
• Exemption TN — Tennessee's protected amount from garnishment
• 25% — Maximum percentage that can typically be garnished

Explanation: The garnishment amount is the lesser of either 25% of disposable income or the amount remaining after subtracting Tennessee's exemption from disposable income.

3. Importance of Garnishment Calculation

Details: Accurate garnishment calculation ensures compliance with Tennessee law while satisfying creditor claims. It protects debtors from excessive withholding while ensuring creditors receive what they're legally entitled to.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your disposable income (after required deductions) and Tennessee's current exemption amount. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What counts as disposable income?
A: Disposable income is earnings after deductions required by law (taxes, Social Security, etc.), but before voluntary deductions.

Q2: What is Tennessee's current exemption amount?
A: The exemption amount is set by Tennessee law and may change. Check current statutes for the most up-to-date figure.

Q3: Are there different rules for child support?
A: Yes, child support garnishments may have different calculation rules and higher maximum percentages.

Q4: Can my employer charge a fee for processing garnishment?
A: Tennessee law may allow employers to deduct a small administrative fee from the employee's remaining wages.

Q5: What if multiple garnishments are filed?
A: There are priority rules and aggregate limits for multiple garnishments against the same wages.