Wage garnishment and exemptions in Alaska

How much can they take from your paycheck in Alaska?

For an ordinary debt such as a credit card or medical bill, after a court judgment.

Deadline and form to protect your money in Alaska

The papers from the court, your employer or your bank list the deadline to claim an exemption. Ask the court how to file the claim: Alaska court self-help (official).

Your paycheck and garnishment in Alaska

Wage limit

Alaska protects a dollar amount of your weekly net (take-home) pay. The statute says $350 a week, but the amount in effect by regulation is $473 a week (8 AAC 95.030(d)). The federal limit also applies; you keep whichever protects more. If you are not paid weekly, semi-monthly or monthly, up to $1,890 a month in cash and liquid assets is protected instead.

Head of household

If your earnings alone support your household, you can sign a sworn affidavit to raise the protected amount: then only your weekly take-home pay above $743 can be taken (statute $550), or up to $2,970 a month in cash and liquid assets is protected (statute $2,200). (AS 09.38.050(b); 8 AAC 95.030(e))

Law

AS 09.38.030; AS 09.38.050(b); AS 09.38.115; 8 AAC 95.030

Where Alaska protects more than the federal 25% cap (15 U.S.C. 1673(a)), the state rule wins.

In nearby states

• Washington: Up to 20%
• Oregon: Up to 25%
• Idaho: 25% (federal limit)
• Montana: 25% (federal limit)

Property you can keep in Alaska

• Amounts in effect by regulation (8 AAC 95.030; a further inflation increase was proposed in July 2026): home up to $72,900 (statute $54,000, AS 09.38.010); one vehicle up to $4,050 if it is worth $27,000 or less (statute $3,000/$20,000, AS 09.38.020(e)); household goods and similar items up to $4,050 (statute $3,000, AS 09.38.020(a)).

Also in Alaska

• Alaska's exemption amounts can change on October 1 of each even-numbered year if inflation has risen 10% or more (AS 09.38.115).
• July 2026: the Department of Labor and Workforce Development proposed raising all Alaska Exemptions Act dollar amounts (8 AAC 95.030) for inflation.

Bank accounts and garnishment in Alaska

Only for people without regular weekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay: cash and liquid assets (including deposits) up to $1,890 a month (statute $1,400, raised by 8 AAC 95.030(d)(2)). (AS 09.38.030(b))

Two months of federal benefits paid by direct deposit are off-limits to a garnishment, and the bank applies this on its own (31 CFR 212.5, 212.6). How garnishment follows a lawsuit.

Child support, student loans and taxes: different limits

• Child support: up to 50% of disposable earnings if you support another spouse or child, or 60% if you don't; 5% more if the support is more than 12 weeks late (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)).
• Federal student loans: up to 15% of disposable pay, without a court case, after a written notice at least 30 days ahead (20 U.S.C. 1095a).
• Other debts owed to a federal agency: an agency can garnish up to 15% of disposable pay, and you keep at least 30 times the federal minimum wage a week (31 CFR 285.11).
• Federal taxes: an IRS levy leaves you an exempt amount based on your standard deduction and dependents; return the Statement of Dependents and Filing Status your employer gives you within 3 days (26 U.S.C. 6334(a)(9), (d); IRS wage levy rules).

The lawsuit comes first in Alaska

If you don't answer in time, the creditor can ask for a default judgment against you.

The time to answer in Alaska: District or superior court debt case: file an Answer within 20 days after you are served with the Complaint.

What to do if you are sued in Alaska

How to claim an exemption in Alaska

1. Watch for deadlines

   Exemption deadlines on court, employer or bank papers can be short, so mark them at once.

2. Work out what Alaska protects

   Alaska's wage rule: Alaska protects a dollar amount of your weekly net (take-home) pay. The statute says $350 a week, but the amount in effect by regulation is $473 a week (8 AAC 95.030(d)). If your earnings alone support your household, you can sign a sworn affidavit to raise the protected amount: then only your weekly take-home pay above $743 can be taken (statute $550), or up to $2,970 a month in cash and liquid assets is protected (statute $2,200).

3. Check your bank deposits

   Alaska also protects money in an account: Only for people without regular weekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay: cash and liquid assets (including deposits) up to $1,890 a month (statute $1,400, raised by 8 AAC 95.030(d)(2)). Two months of direct-deposited federal benefits must be left alone (31 CFR 212.6).

4. Claim your exemptions in court

   Ask the court clerk for the exemption claim form and file it by the deadline. Start with Alaska court self-help (official).

5. Talk to legal aid

   Free help in Alaska: Alaska Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit and Alaska Court System Self-Help Center: Debt collection.

Questions about garnishment in Alaska

More for Alaska

• All debt collection rights in Alaska
• Statute of limitations in Alaska: 3 years
• Sued by a debt collector in Alaska: 20 days
• Debt collector laws in Alaska: license required
• “Is my debt too old?” checker for Alaska
• Dispute a debt and ask for proof (validation letter)
• Tell a collector to stop or limit contact
• Wage garnishment limits by state
• Guide: sued by a debt collector