What A Creditor Cannot Take
Wis. Stat. 815.18 — household goods to $12,000, a vehicle to $4,000, and 80 percent of wages
| Property | Exempt up to |
|---|---|
| PropertyHousehold goods, furnishings, clothing, jewelry, appliances, books, firearms and other personal and family goods | Exempt up to$12,000 in total |
| PropertyMotor vehicles, plus any unused part of the household goods amount | Exempt up to$4,000 in total |
| PropertyPersonal bank and credit union accounts | Exempt up to$5,000 in total |
Support and maintenance payments are exempt to the extent reasonably needed to support the debtor and dependents, and a homestead is exempt under its own section.
80 percent of earnings. 80 percent of a debtor's disposable earnings are exempt from garnishment. Earnings are totally exempt if the household income is below the poverty line, or the debtor gets need-based public assistance or got it within 6 months before the garnishment papers were served. A garnishment that would push the household below the poverty line is cut to the income above it.
The garnishment exemptions do not apply to a debt for support of any person, for unpaid taxes, or ordered in certain bankruptcy proceedings.
Sources for this section (2)
- Wis. Stat. 815.18 — Property exempt from execution
- Wis. Stat. 812.34 — Exemption
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.