Wage Garnishment
HRS 652-1 — five per cent of the first $100 a month, ten of the next $100, twenty of the rest
A creditor may garnish what a third party, such as an employer or a bank, holds or owes the debtor, before judgment after a hearing the chapter requires, or after judgment.
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| Wages each month, after required withholding | Share that may be garnished |
|---|---|
| Wages each month, after required withholdingThe first $100 | Share that may be garnishedFive per cent |
| Wages each month, after required withholdingThe next $100 | Share that may be garnishedTen per cent |
| Wages each month, after required withholdingEverything over $200 | Share that may be garnishedTwenty per cent |
In a district court case, ten days after judgment the creditor may file the judgment and an affidavit with the employer, which then withholds at those rates. Before judgment, the amount held may not exceed one hundred twenty per cent of the claim with costs and interest, and the debtor may have it released by posting a bond.
Sources for this section (1)
- HRS 652-1 — Garnishee process; "garnishee fund"
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Hawaii attorney.