How to Stop Garnishment According to a Garnishment Lawyer
A wage garnishment lawyer helps to stop wage garnishments so you can become more financially sound. Garnishment is a method by which a creditor who already has a judgment can collect money, such as for child support. Thus, if you’re at the garnishment stage, that means you have already been sued in the past, and a judge issued a judgment against you.
Stop wage garnishments now with the support of a licensed wage garnishment attorney.
What Actions Can a Creditor Take Against Me?
If a creditor filed a wage or bank garnishment against you, then the creditor likely also filed a lien against you that is known as a Writ of Fieri Facias (“Fi Fa”). A creditor files the Fi Fa in the county in which you reside, and the Fi Fa attaches to all property that you own. When you file bankruptcy, you can ask at your court hearing to extinguish the lien if you have no unexempt equity in any property.
Are There Any Alternatives to Bankruptcy?
In Georgia, you can file a traverse of garnishment in order to dispute the garnishment action. However, a traverse will not be successful unless it shows that the judgment is void or was wrongfully obtained. That is pretty difficult if the creditor sued you and served you properly before filing the garnishment suit. Plus, filing a traverse often requires you to go backward into the original case where the judgment was issued to dispute the validity of that judgment. For example, in Georgia, personal service or service by publication is required. If you never got served with a copy of the lawsuit, it may be grounds for vacating the judgment.
You can also try to settle the debt with the judgment creditor. However, if you’re already at the garnishment phase, settling the debt at a reduced rate will be more difficult. Usually, if you’re looking to settle debt at a discounted rate, you’ll want to offer a significant lump sum.
Immediate Actions to Take as Soon as You Receive a Wage Garnishment
- The first thing you should do simultaneously when looking for a garnishment lawyer is negotiate a payment plan with your creditor(s). This step is paramount in doing everything you can to secure your financial future. Be persistent in requesting to work out a financially practical payment plan with your creditor(s). This plan also has to work for the creditor(s) to be approved.
- A less common option is reaching out to a non-profit for financial assistance. This could be beneficial especially if you know someone who works at an economic non-profit.
Wage Garnishment Lawyer Expert Advice
How Much Can a Judgment Creditor Garnish?
Under Georgia law, when a creditor obtains a judgment against you, it may be able to garnish wages or bank account as follows:
- Creditors can garnish 25% of your paycheck each pay period, even if you make federal minimum wage.
- Creditors may also be able to garnish your checking and savings accounts directly and take unlimited amounts of money up to the amount of the judgment in your bank accounts to satisfy your debts to them.
- Your ability to have disposable earnings can be halted, furthering your debt collection.
- The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) protects employees from being fired due to wage garnishments.
A Garnishment Lawyer Will Fight to Stop Wage Garnishments
How Does Bankruptcy Help Stop a Garnishment?
Creditors cannot make any collection efforts upon the filing of Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Bankruptcy is a great option to stop garnishments, but it is always a smoother process when you have the right legal advice from a wage garnishment attorney.
Filing bankruptcy initiates a protection by the court called the “automatic stay.” The stay applies to all creditor actions, including garnishments. A bankruptcy filing immediately stops the garnishment process. When debtors hire Charles M. Clapp, a top Georgia garnishment attorney, to stop a wage garnishment, he files the bankruptcy as soon as possible and notifies the creditor who is garnishing the debtor of the bankruptcy filing.
When Should I File Bankruptcy to Stop a Garnishment?
You should contact a wage garnishment attorney right away and file bankruptcy as soon as possible after receiving notice of the garnishment. In Georgia, the garnishment is served upon the bank or the employer, and the bank/employer has to answer the garnishment and withhold money to send to the court within 30 days of being served. Thus, you want to file your bankruptcy case before the money is sent off to the court.
Can I Get My Money Back if the Garnishment Already Started?
If the creditor has already garnished your paycheck, you may not be able to recover the money already taken. However, future wage garnishment should stop. You will probably want to contact your human resources or payroll manager to ensure that they are aware that you have filed bankruptcy to stop the garnishment.
When a creditor files a bank garnishment, your bank will place a hold on your account. The bank is required to answer the creditor’s garnishment action, so if you file bankruptcy before the answer is due, you may be able to stop the creditor from taking the funds from your account.
Best Garnishment Lawyer in Atlanta and all of Georgia
Bankruptcy attorneys are versed in wage garnishment. Charles M. Clapp, Atlanta’s premier garnishment attorney, can get you on a debt payment plan. With his help, you can consolidate or lower your credit card debt and pay off other debts.
If you have any further questions about garnishments, call the Law Offices of Charles Clapp at (404) 585-0040 or contact us online for a free consultation with a garnishment attorney. A successful end to wage garnishment and debt is working with a qualified and experienced lawyer who will be your biggest ally. Charles. M. Clapp will do just this. Let him fight for your money when you don’t know how to.