Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Stops Wage Garnishment
Having your wages garnished is one of the most upsetting things that can happen to a person. Wages are garnished after a creditor gets a judgment against you that you don’t pay and then goes back to the court to get the order of garnishment. When this goes into effect, money goes right from your paycheck to the creditor without ever getting to you.
If this happens and you need it to stop, Chapter 7 bankruptcy should put a permanent stop to your wage garnishment.
When you file for bankruptcy, the law immediately begins protecting you from creditors by imposing an “automatic stay.” The stay orders creditors to stop any and all collection activities going on against you. Garnishment, thus, is ceased upon filing. Once you have filed, the chapter 7 bankruptcy eliminates all dischargeable debts so that the garnishment doesn’t start again.