No matter your line of work, no matter how much you earn, there is no better feeling than logging into your online bank account on Friday morning to see that your employer has deposited your paycheck. That’s because this bi-weekly cash influx means that you’re instantly in a better position to save, spend or stay the course in paying your bills.
What happens, however, when the amount you take home is drastically reduced — maybe by as much as 25 percent — thanks to wage garnishments? While this can prove to be a major headache for some, forcing them to cut back on expenses, it can actually prove to be potentially ruinous for others, exacerbating their already serious financial problems.
The unfortunate reality about wage garnishment is that it is often the direct result of legal actions of which people were completely unaware. In other words, it may come as a complete shock to a person to learn that their wages are being garnished by anyone from a credit card company to a hospital.
As discouraging as all this is, those individuals in dire financial circumstances should understand that when they file for personal bankruptcy — Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 — something known as an automatic stay goes into effect. This means that all collection actions, including wage garnishments, must stop while the bankruptcy case is pending.
As if this isn’t promising enough, the bankruptcy process may also serve to discharge the underlying debt to which the wage garnishment is attached.
At Kingcade & Garcia, P.A., we have helped thousands of financially distressed individuals across South Florida put an end to wage garnishment and, more significantly, secure a fresh financial start. If you would like to learn more about our approach and how we can help you, please visit our website.
