We’re sorry—wage garnishment is one of the most frustrating actions a creditor can take. Few things cause as much panic as discovering your paycheck is far less than what you were expecting. It’s even worse when you weren’t given notice, preventing you from budgeting correctly.
There’s not much someone can do about a creditor’s lawsuit or your wages being garnished. However, we can walk you through your situation to find out how this problem happened.
Possible Reasons Why Your Wages Are Being Garnished
I never got any information about a lawsuit!
- When a creditor files a lawsuit to collect a debt, they must serve you with a copy. Certified mail is the most common method. Some judges don’t require that you sign the receipt. According to our Lincoln bankruptcy lawyer, if the mail isn’t picked up, the sheriff or process server will serve you (or even another member of your household) at your home.
- If both methods fail, the collection agency can publish notice in the newspaper.
I never received notice that my wages would be garnished!
- Unfortunately, the law lets a creditor file a garnishment, and then wait 7 days before sending a copy by certified mail to your last known address. No receipt is required. According to our Lincoln bankruptcy lawyer, if you haven’t received notice, the best place to look is through recent paperwork from your employer.
I can’t afford being garnished! How can I stop it?
- Unfortunately, you can’t. The only way to stop wage garnishment at this point is to file a bankruptcy. The good news is that bankruptcy isn’t as scary as it seems. In fact, if you file bankruptcy in Lincoln, NE, you may even get some of your garnished wages back if they’ve taken over $600 in the past 90 days!
Contact Our Experienced Lincoln Bankruptcy Lawyer if Your Wages Are Being Garnished
Wage garnishment is one of the worst aspects of debt, and creditors usually have the law on their side. Sometimes these lawsuits can sneak up on you, especially if you recently moved or you weren’t looking for it in the mail. It can be impossible to fight a wage garnishment without a bankruptcy, but that’s what we’re here for.
Our Lincoln bankruptcy lawyer at Steffens Law Accident Injury Lawyers are eager to fight for you and help you return to a life of financial freedom. If you have questions about wage garnishment or are wondering if bankruptcy is right for you, give us a call today at (308) 872-8327. You don’t need to do this alone. We have your back.