Wage garnishment can be a frustrating and financially crippling experience. Imagine working hard, only to see a chunk of your paycheck taken away due to unpaid debts. The good news? There’s a powerful legal tool that can help not only stop future garnishments but also recover the money that’s already been taken from your wages: bankruptcy.
At Walker & Walker, we’ve helped countless clients regain control of their financial future, and Attorney Andrew Walker’s top tip for garnishment recovery could be just what you need to get back on track.
Understanding Wage Garnishment
Wage garnishment is a legal process where a portion of your earnings is withheld by your employer to pay off debts like credit cards, medical bills, student loans, or unpaid taxes. This can make it difficult to meet basic financial needs like paying rent, buying groceries, or covering utilities. Many people don’t realize that bankruptcy can be a solution to this financial burden.
Can Bankruptcy Stop Wage Garnishment?
Yes! Filing for bankruptcy, whether it’s Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, can immediately stop wage garnishment. As soon as your bankruptcy case is filed, the automatic stay goes into effect. This is a court order that prevents creditors from taking any further action to collect debts, including wage garnishments. It provides immediate relief, giving you the breathing room to get your finances in order.
Recovering Garnished Wages
One of the most overlooked benefits of filing for bankruptcy is that it doesn’t just stop future garnishments—it can also help you recover the wages that were previously garnished.
In Minnesota, if you’ve had $625 or more garnished in the last 90 days, bankruptcy laws may allow you to get that money back. Both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings offer this possibility, making bankruptcy a powerful financial reset tool. With those reclaimed funds, many of our clients are able to build an emergency fund, pay off other necessary bills, or start fresh with a clean financial slate.
The Bankruptcy Advantage: A Fresh Start
Bankruptcy, whether filed under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, gives you the opportunity for a fresh financial start. It can eliminate unsecured debt like credit cards and medical bills, stop harassing collection calls, and, most importantly, halt garnishments. But the advantage doesn’t stop there—bankruptcy can also help you recover garnished wages, giving you immediate access to funds that can help rebuild your financial health.
With the bankruptcy advantage, you get the relief of stopping future garnishments and the bonus of reclaiming lost income. This powerful tool can give you the financial reset you need to regain stability and move forward with confidence.
Walker & Walker: Making Bankruptcy Easy
At Walker & Walker, we make the process of filing for bankruptcy as smooth and hassle-free as possible. We can file your case in just a few days, and there’s no upfront cost or office visit required. Our clients often tell us they’re amazed at how quickly the process moves, and many of them see their credit scores rise to 720 or higher within two years after filing.
Take Control of Your Financial Future
If wage garnishments are making it difficult for you to stay financially afloat, bankruptcy might be the solution you didn’t know was available. Attorney Andrew Walker and the team at Walker & Walker can help you file bankruptcy, stop garnishments, and recover the wages that have already been taken.
Ready to take back control of your paycheck? Call us today at 612-824-4357 for a free consultation. Let us guide you through the process and help you reclaim your financial freedom.