Wage Garnishment

Have your wages been garnished or have you received notice of garnishment? In the city of Atlanta (and elsewhere in Georgia) creditors can have up to 25% of your disposable earnings withheld to pay debts. Disposable earnings are the wage left after mandatory deductions like federal taxes, state taxes, state unemployment taxes, and Social Security taxes.

Wage Garnishments in the state of Georgia Do Not Require a Lengthy Court Process (they must simply file a case with the court and it can begin quickly)!

• No court or judicial order is needed but the creditor requesting the garnishment must inform you of the impending garnishment in advance.
• The State of Georgia places a very high priority on child support which is garnishable without a court order.
• Student loan default is capped at 15% of your disposable income. The US Department of Education or anyone acting as the authorized collector will collect the funds

Call today to ask how you and your wages can be protected from Garnishment.

There are specific pay items that are exempt from garnishment.

• Generally, social security income and money paid in lump sum or installments for disability or retirement. But even these can be garnished for debt(s) on federal or state taxes, child support premiums or federal student loans.
• A person living solely on Social Security Income.
• State welfare benefits such as Medicaid, Good Stamps, Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

How To Stop Wage Garnishments

The attorneys at Debt Freedom can negotiate a deal with a lender for a practical lump sum payment which will in effect remove the garnishment. This will require that you have funds available and is worth exploring.

A chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13 bankruptcy will immediately stop a garnishment. The big benefit of bankruptcy is that in addition to stopping the garnishment, it can wipe out your other debts at the same time. Bankruptcy is often the most efficient way to deal with all your debts at once.

It is rare but it possible that the garnishment was not obtained properly or a law or procedure that was passed over during the process collecting the debt. If you think your garnishment or debt is in error, contact us as soon as possible.

This is no time to be evasive or try to hide from or avoid the creditors. You do not have to face them alone or have your rights abused. There is a way to Debt Freedom. Contact us today for a free consultation.