Garnishment
How Bankruptcy Can Stop Wage Garnishment
Opening a paycheck and seeing a chunk of it missing to a creditor is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a household budget. If a creditor has already gotten a court order to garnish your wages — or is threatening to — bankruptcy may be able to stop it, often within days of filing.
The Automatic Stay: Your Fastest Tool Against Garnishment
The moment you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, federal law puts an automatic stay into place. This legal order requires creditors to immediately stop most collection actions, including wage garnishment. Your employer is notified, and in most cases, the deductions stop with your next paycheck cycle.
This is often the fastest way to get relief when garnishment has already started or is about to start.
Garnishment and Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13
- Chapter 7 can stop garnishment and, if the underlying debt qualifies, discharge it entirely — meaning the garnishment doesn't come back
- Chapter 13 stops garnishment immediately and rolls the underlying debt into your structured repayment plan, replacing scattered garnishment and collection efforts with one predictable monthly payment. Often you will pay less on the unsecured debt as well.
Our Promise to You
We only practice bankruptcy law, so you’re not getting split attention. You’re getting focused advice, an honest read on your options, and a plan that fits your actual situation.
If your wages are being garnished, or you’ve received notice that they’re about to be, don’t wait. Every paycheck that gets garnished is money you can’t get back. Call 503-894-4891 today for a free consultation about how bankruptcy can stop it.