Although not all creditors can or will garnish your wages, when you owe debt, aggressive creditors can do so. They must follow a specific process, but unscrupulous creditors may take advantage of consumers who are unaware of their rights. Athens Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers keep you informed of your rights and protect you along the way.
Wage garnishment occurs when your employer is required to withhold a certain percentage of your wages and pay it directly to your creditor. It is important to note that, in most cases, a creditor cannot garnish your wages unless they have obtained a legal judgment in a competent court of law that finds that you do owe them money.
Even if the creditor has gone through the time and expense of obtaining a court judgment, the percentage of your paycheck that they can garnish is limited. In Georgia, most creditors can only garnish up to 25% of your paycheck. Please be aware that those limits do not apply to garnishments used to satisfy child support back payments, student loans, or unpaid taxes.
Wage garnishments can cause a difficult financial situation to become even worse. If you are struggling to pay your bills already, a wage garnishment can deplete the limited funds that you do have. If your wages are being garnished, Marietta Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers with experience helping consumers find debt relief can help you enforce your rights and take appropriate action ― including filing for bankruptcy, which will stop a creditor from garnishing your wages.
Please call Jeff Field and Associates at 404-381-1278 or contact us online to schedule your appointment. We are ready to provide you with the help you need today.