Bowie, Maryland Wage Garnishment Defense Attorney

Dedicated Bankruptcy Lawyer Helping You Stop Garnishments in Bowie

When you are struggling with your finances, every penny counts. You may not have enough left to pay all your bills after buying food for your family, filling up your car with gas, and paying for your housing and utilities. If you get too far behind on some types of payments, your creditors can seek garnishment orders. If granted, those orders can use a bank levy to seize money from your bank accounts or take money directly from your paycheck before you get it. While paying your obligations may have been challenging before, a garnishment can make it impossible. Your best course of action may be to file for bankruptcy, but not all garnishments can be stopped. You need an experienced bankruptcy lawyer to help you get the debt relief you need.

Choosing Bloc One Services, LLC means you can have Hope for a fresh start. Attorney Hope Blocton knows and understands what you are going through and how to develop a comprehensive strategy to turn your financial setbacks into comebacks. Even if your debt that resulted in a garnishment cannot be stopped by bankruptcy's automatic stay, filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 can help you eliminate or manage other types of debt and provide you with much-needed relief. We will do everything in our power to simplify the process for you and guide you in making informed decisions. If you have questions, your legal team will always be available to answer them.

Understanding Wage Garnishments and Bank Levies

Most creditors need a court order to garnish your bank accounts or wages. You will get a notice of their intention to take you to court. At that time, you may be able to prevent the garnishment by filing for bankruptcy. However, like with most laws, there are exceptions, which include:

• Some creditors can institute garnishments without a court order. These include child support agencies, the IRS and other tax agencies, some student loan creditors, and courts that enforce alimony obligations.
• Some of your funds and income sources may be protected against garnishments, such as veterans' benefits, Social Security, and retirement accounts.

Wondering if you will wake up one day to find a chunk of your bank account gone through a levy is unsettling, as is receiving a paycheck and discovering that a portion of your wages was taken to satisfy your debts. To avoid being taken by surprise, contact our office as soon as you are notified that a levy or garnishment may be coming. We will investigate your situation before explaining your options. We will also help you create a thorough plan to either restructure or discharge your eligible debts.

How the Automatic Stay Can Help With Garnishments

As soon as you file for bankruptcy, most creditors are prevented from taking action against you. That means that for some debts that are subject to garnishment, the creditor must cease them immediately, and they cannot request a new garnishment. As mentioned, some debts and garnishments may be exempt from the automatic stay.

With some debts, like credit cards, personal loans, and medical debts, you should immediately benefit from the automatic stay. Garnishments will cease as soon as you file your petition for bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 Vs. Chapter 13 for Garnishments

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is primarily used to discharge unsecured debts, while Chapter 13 lets you restructure your debts and make a single monthly payment over a period that usually extends from three to five years. Whichever route you choose, your monthly cash flow may increase enough to give you breathing room, even if the garnishment cannot be halted. Attorney Hope Blocton will work with you to decide on an overall strategy.

Contact Our Bowie, MD Bankruptcy and Wage Garnishment Lawyer

Take back control over your finances by filing for bankruptcy with the skilled legal help available at Bloc One Services, LLC. We provide high-quality legal services to communities in Maryland and Washington D.C. at fair and reasonable prices. For your complimentary case evaluation, call 240-200-0076 or contact us online today.