The Scourge Of Wage Garnishment: Don't Let It Happen To You
When things get bad, creditors can take money directly from your hard-earned pay. To find out what you can do when that happens, read below.
Understanding Wage Garnishment
Even though some consumers acknowledge being behind on their bills, it can still come as a shock when they learn their paychecks will be short until a debt is paid off. Not only is it embarrassing, but wage garnishment can also make a bad financial situation worse.
When a creditor takes legal action against a debtor, the judge may allow the creditor to garnish the debtor's wage. An order from the judge arrives at the debtor's place of employment and the employer must remove a certain portion of the employee's pay before being given to them. This practice can continue until the debt is paid off. Unfortunately, however, the balance of the debt now contains extra charges such as court costs, legal fees, interests, fines, and more.
How to Put an End to Wage Garnishment
You can always just pay off the debt and then the garnishment will stop. However, it's not usually that simple for those who are having trouble with their bills. The other way to stop this is to declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The automatic stay kicks in as soon as the Chapter 7 paperwork is filed in the federal court. The stay orders creditors like the one garnishing your pay to cease that practice immediately. The Chapter 7 automatic stay also stops bill collectors from contacting you, it halts foreclosures and repossessions, and it turns some court judgments into useless paper.
Using Chapter 7 to Get Your Finances in Order
The automatic stay is great for putting your paycheck back in your own pocket, but it does so much more. Once you are no longer having to pay credit card debt, personal loans, payday lenders, and medical debt each month, you have more money to use for food, housing, and things you have been putting off.
Chapter 7 gives consumers a fresh start to do things differently. With most all debts being wiped out, they have an opportunity to make better financial decisions when it comes to saving, spending, and using credit wisely.
Speak to a Bankruptcy Lawyer
Bankruptcy is too complex a legal move to make on your own. Your bankruptcy lawyer can look over your property holdings and advise you about what might be lost if you file for Chapter 7. They can educate you about exemptions that will protect your assets while still getting rid of nearly all your debts. To find out more about filing for Chapter 7, speak to a bankruptcy lawyer.
For more information, contact a firm like McManus & Associates.