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What else do you need to know about wage garnishment?
What else do you need to know about wage garnishment? As you may recall, we first introduced this topic several weeks ago. Now, it’s time to take a second look at the subject matter. Join us as we tell you about your options once your wages have been garnished. We’ll also suggest what your next steps should be in response to this situation.
Arrange a More Favorable Deal
As you begin to prepare for the garnishment proceedings, be extra diligent about reading the paperwork. The information could be inaccurate. What does that mean? Well, for one thing, you could have already paid off your debt. Alternatively, it could belong to someone else (especially if they share your name.) In any case, take action by contacting your creditors.
Erroneous wage garnishment judgments are grounds for a challenge. If it is harmful to your finances, you do have a valid claim against having to pay. Either way, get second opinions from consumer law attorneys and local legal counsels to figure out what you should do.
Dispute the Initial Judgment
So now, let’s talk about how the dispute process works. Even if the judgment was a fair one, its execution could be flawed or unfairly harsh. As such, you do have the right to object. But if you plan on contesting such a ruling, you must do so within five business days. Once that deadline passes, you’ll have no other choice but to pay off the garnishment.
Agree to Pay Off the Garnishment
Suppose that you failed to file your objection before the grace period expired. Here, you have two ways forward: begin paying down the wage garnishment via installments or pay it all off in a single lump sum. While you might have to borrow money from a family member or take out a personal loan, doing so can make this drawn-out process feel less painfully interminable.
What If Garnishment Presents a Financial Hardship?
And now, we leave you with some more advice. What do you do if the wage garnishment becomes a financial hardship? Even before the pandemic caused massive turmoil for many ordinary people, it was probably hard enough to make those required payments on time. Nonprofit credit counselors can assist you, though. How so? For starters, they’ll go over your debt relief options with you. Then they can recommend two possible solutions: repayment plans and declaring bankruptcy.
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