Example Letter To Stop Wage Garnishment

You have some rights in the wage garnishment process, but in most states, it's your responsibility to be aware of and exercise these rights. You have to be legally notified of the garnishment. You can file a dispute if the notice has inaccurate information or you believe you don't owe the debt.

If it's already started, you can try to challenge the judgment or negotiate with the creditor. But, they're in the driver's seat, and if they don't allow you to stop a garnishment by agreeing to make voluntary payments, you can't really force them to. You can, however, stop the garnishment by filing a bankruptcy case.

Once a garnishment is approved in court, the creditor will notify you before contacting your bank to begin the actual garnishment. However, the bank itself has no legal obligation to inform you when money is withdrawn due to an account garnishment.

Social Security Benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits. Veterans' Benefits. Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits. Military Annuities and Survivors' Benefits. Student Assistance. Railroad Retirement Benefits.

Respond to the Creditor's Demand Letter. Seek State-Specific Remedies. Get Debt Counseling. Object to the Garnishment. Attend the Objection Hearing (and Negotiate if Necessary) Challenge the Underlying Judgment. Continue Negotiating.

With the second stimulus check, your payment was protected from bank garnishment and from private creditors and debt collectors, according to the text of the law.Federal law allows only state and federal government agencies to take your refund as payment toward a debt, not individual or private creditors.

Generally, state laws don't require employers to notify you in advance before garnishing wages. Nor are they required to give you a period of time to dispute the debt or garnishment. However, your employer should, as a courtesy, provide you with a copy of the notice.