If a creditor garnishes your account, not everything stays available to you. The law protects a basic amount that you need to cover your living costs. Since 1 July 2026 this basic amount is 1,587.40 euros per month. Separate allowances apply for people you support. This guide explains what stays protected and how to proceed step by step.
Quick answer: From 1 July 2026 the basic amount is 1,587.40 euros per month (§ 850c para. 1 no. 1 ZPO). The first person you support is protected with 597.42 euros, each further person with 332.83 euros (para. 2). The amounts come from the official notice, as of November 2026.
The most important points
- The basic amount has been 1,587.40 euros per month since 1 July 2026.
- The first person you support adds 597.42 euros.
- Each further person you support adds 332.83 euros.
- The garnishment table determines how much may be seized above these limits.
- A P-account is the account type through which this protection works in daily use.
What is the garnishment exemption limit?
The garnishment exemption limit is the amount that a creditor may not seize from your earnings. It is set out in civil procedure law, namely in § 850c of the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO). The official notice of the current amounts applies from its reference date and forms the basis of the garnishment table.
Which amounts apply from 1 July 2026?
| Group | Allowance per month | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Basic amount without persons you support | 1,587.40 euros | § 850c para. 1 no. 1 ZPO |
| First person you support | 597.42 euros | § 850c para. 2 sentence 1 ZPO |
| Each further person you support | 332.83 euros | § 850c para. 2 sentence 2 ZPO |
The amounts apply from 1 July 2026. The notice names this reference date explicitly. Earlier values from previous years no longer apply.
How does the limit work in practice?
Garnishment does not affect the whole account, but the part of your income above the allowances. How much may actually be seized is determined by the garnishment table, depending on your income and your maintenance obligations. There is no simple rule of thumb, so use the table of the current notice.
Assumption: you are single, have no persons you support, and your monthly income is 1,800 euros. The basic amount of 1,587.40 euros is protected for you. Only the part above it can be seized under the table. The exact amount follows from the table and not from a simple subtraction.
What does this mean for your account?
A garnishment-protected account, known as a P-account, is the usual account type through which this protection works in everyday use. You set it up with your bank. The way the protection works in detail is explained by your bank and in the guide to the P-account (in German). Do not wait until a garnishment before you set it up.
Maintenance and additional allowances
If you support children or other relatives, § 850c para. 2 ZPO provides separate allowances. For the first person you support the amount is 597.42 euros, and for each further person 332.83 euros per month. Which people count and how you prove this, you clarify with the competent enforcement court or a debt advice centre.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when the bailiff comes?
Take the bailiff’s letters seriously and watch the deadlines. The guide on bailiffs (in German) explains the steps in an account garnishment. Check which claim is to be enforced and whether you acknowledge it.
Does the limit also apply to mini-jobs and student assistant jobs?
The limit applies to earned income in general. How individual incomes count depends on the type of income. If you are unsure, a debt advice centre can go through your income with you.
Do the amounts change?
Yes, the amounts are adjusted and published in new notices. Always find the amount currently in force in the latest notice. Check the reference date that applies to every garnishment.
Where can I get advice on a concrete garnishment?
The first points of contact are the competent enforcement court and debt advice centres. They know the procedures and can review your documents. An appointment before the deadlines expire is much more effective than clarifying later.
What to do now
- Check whether the amount on your account matches the basic amount and the maintenance allowances.
- Set up a P-account with your bank before a garnishment threatens.
- Document your maintenance obligations with evidence.
- Check deadlines and claims in every letter from the bailiff.
What is a P-account exactly?
A P-account is a current account on which the amount protected from seizure is automatically safeguarded when an account garnishment takes place. The bank holds the protected amount available for you, so you can keep paying rent, insurance and living costs as long as the protected amount remains available. Most banks offer the set-up, and it is best done in good time.
Which documents help with the calculation?
For an assessment you need documents that prove your income and your maintenance obligations. Without this evidence the seizable amount is hard to check. Collect the documents early, so that you can respond faster if a garnishment occurs.
- Payslips from the last months.
- Evidence of maintenance payments or maintenance obligations.
- Account statements showing incoming payments.
- Notices about benefits that are paid into your account.
Bailiffs and deadlines: what you should know
A bailiff does not always announce a visit. Letters contain deadlines that you should take seriously. If a deadline passes unused, decisions can be made without your input. Check every letter carefully and ask a debt advice centre promptly if something is unclear.
Can I keep using the account during a garnishment?
Yes, on a P-account you can usually continue to use the protected amount. Other amounts on the account may be seized. The bank shows which amounts are affected in the account overview, and the enforcement court decides in the proceedings.
Why early preparation pays off
A garnishment rarely arrives without warning. Often there is first a dunning procedure or letters before the bailiff appears. Anyone who sorts documents, applies for a P-account and notes deadlines in this phase loses less money and keeps more room to act. An appointment with a debt advice centre is often the most effective first step in this situation.
Related guides
- Set up a P-account: step by step
- Bailiff at the door: what to do with an account garnishment
- Money, account and credit: the overview for young adults
- What the new 2026 credit score means for you
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
