Wage Garnishment & Other Debt Issues

Wage Garnishment Laws: An Overview

Learn which creditors can garnish (take) your wages, how the process works, and more.

How Much of My Wages Can Be Garnished?

Federal and state law limits the amount a judgment creditor or someone with a statutory garnishment right can require your employer to deduct from your paycheck to pay debts.

Stop Wage Garnishment: Grounds for Objecting to Wage Garnishment

Find out about your wage garnishment rights under federal and state laws and when you can "object to" or challenge a wage garnishment taken against you by a judgment creditor.

How to Stop Wage Garnishment Without Bankruptcy

In some situations, you can prevent a wage garnishment without bankruptcy. Learn how to negotiate with a judgment creditor to resolve the debt before the creditor begins the garnishment process and other effective strategies.

Using Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to Stop Wage Garnishment

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stop wage garnishments and prevent you from losing money from your paycheck. Find out how the Chapter 7 automatic stay will temporarily stop wage garnishments.

Understanding Secured, Unsecured, and Priority Debts in Bankruptcy

Whether a debt is secured, unsecured, or priority determines whether a creditor will get paid. Understanding debt types will help you correctly complete bankruptcy paperwork and know who you must pay after Chapter 7 or in a Chapter 13 plan.

Getting Rid of Credit Card Debt With Bankruptcy

Most credit card debt is eliminated or "discharged" in bankruptcy, but sometimes a creditor asks the court to declare credit card balance nondischargeable. Learn what can happen to credit card obligations in bankruptcy.

What Is Debt Validation?

When a debt collector first contacts you, you have the right to request information about the debt, called "debt validation" or "debt verification."

Medical Bankruptcies: How to Get Rid of Medical Debt

Learn how to wipe out medical debt in bankruptcy.

Priority vs. Nonpriority Debts in Bankruptcy

Find out why some debts, like recently incurred taxes and domestic support obligations, are categorized as "priority" debts that must be paid before most others when money is available for creditors in bankruptcy.

Can I Get Rid of a Debt If the Debt Collector Violates the FDCPA?

A debt collector's FDCPA violations won't get rid of your liability for the underlying debt.

Are Lawsuit Judgments Discharged by Bankruptcy?

Filing for bankruptcy can eliminate your responsibility to pay qualifying debts, including those that proceeded to judgment. You won't be obligated to pay those obligations, and creditors can't sue you personally to collect them.

How Will Bankruptcy Affect My Child Support Obligations?

You cannot discharge child support debt in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Funds Exempt From a Bank Account Seizure

Find out how to stop a bank account levy or garnishment by filing an exemption claim, asserting an error, filing for bankruptcy, or proving the funds are needed to support your family.

Can Creditors Get Your Income If You Are Self-Employed?

Independent contractors and freelancers don't have wages that a judgment creditor can seize through a typical wage garnishment. Instead, a judgment creditor uses a nonearnings garnishment. Learn more.