The bill S. 277 proposes an amendment to Section 15-39-410 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which pertains to the property that may be applied to satisfy a judgment. The key change introduced by this bill is that instead of allowing a complete exemption of a judgment debtor's earnings from personal services, only seventy-five percent of those earnings will be exempt from being applied toward the satisfaction of a judgment. This means that up to twenty-five percent of a debtor's earnings could potentially be subject to garnishment.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that any earnings withheld from the judgment debtor for personal services must adhere to the limits established by the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act. This amendment aims to balance the rights of creditors to collect debts while still providing some level of protection for debtors' earnings. The bill will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
01/28/2025: 15-39-410
Latest Version: 15-39-410