Wage Garnishment & Limits
Wage Garnishment & Limits
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Wage Garnishment Laws: An Overview
Learn which creditors can garnish (take) your wages, how the process works, and more.
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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.
Challenging a Wage Garnishment
Challenging a Wage Garnishment
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Stop Wage Garnishment: Grounds for Objecting to Wage Garnishment
When a judgment creditor files a wage garnishment against you, you may have grounds to challenge it or "object" to the wage garnishment. The objections you can raise against a wage garnishment depend on your circumstances, federal law, and the laws of your state.
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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.
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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.
Types of Debt
Types of Debt
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Understanding Secured, Unsecured, and Priority Debts in Bankruptcy
You'll indicate whether your debt is secured, unsecured, or priority in the official bankruptcy paperwork you file with the court. The type of debt determines how or whether a creditor will get paid. So a creditor must also identify whether the debt is secured, unsecured, or priority in the proof of claim submitted for payment.
Credit Card Debt
Credit Card Debt
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Getting Rid of Credit Card Debt With Bankruptcy
With a few exceptions, your credit card debt will be discharged in bankruptcy. Find out what happens to credit card debt in Chapters 7 and 13 and when the creditor might ask the bankruptcy court to declare your credit card balance nondischargeable.
Other Debt Issues
Other Debt Issues
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When a debt collector first contacts you, you have the right to request information about the debt, called "debt validation" or "debt verification."
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Medical Bankruptcies: How to Get Rid of Medical Debt
Learn how to wipe out medical debt in bankruptcy.
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Priority vs. Nonpriority Debts in Bankruptcy
Whether an unsecured debt is a priority or a nonpriority debt will affect how that claim is treated in bankruptcy. Find out why recently incurred tax debt and domestic support obligations must be paid before most other debts when money is available for creditors in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
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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.
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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.
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How Will Bankruptcy Affect My Child Support Obligations?
You cannot discharge child support debt in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Bank Account Freezes, Levies & Setoffs
Bank Account Freezes, Levies & Setoffs
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Funds Exempt From a Bank Account Seizure
Find out how to protect money in your bank account from levy or garnishment by a judgment creditor, including by filing a claim of exemption, asserting an error, explaining the funds are necessary for the support of a child, or filing for bankruptcy.
Garnishment of Self-Employed Income
Garnishment of Self-Employed Income
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Can Creditors Get Your Income If You Are Self-Employed?
If you are an independent contractor or freelancer, a judgment creditor cannot garnish your wages. But it may be able to get some of your income through a non-earnings garnishment. This article provides information on creditors seizing self-employment income.