Lots of trouble

[Artdogg]

I have an attachment on my wages. I talked to an attorney. He told me I had to pay him off in full before they can stop any garnishments...There is no way that I can save up for the fee for bankruptcy and have my check garnished. Is there a way to stop it??? Im at my wits end with everything.... Thanks!

[ecsclb1724]

I think with most attorneys its like that. Can you stop paying other credit cards to save up for the fee?

[Tbornetun]

The reason it is like that is...

You cannot stop the garnishment until you file your bankruptcy case. An attorney needs to be paid in full before filing the case or they can't collect from you because of the automatic stay.

[jadams]

If you went into a 13 the lawyer's fees could be included in the payment plan I think.

Not that that's necessarily a good decision for you. Just something to think about.

Can you save any money by stopping paying all other unsecured debts? Or are you already doing that?

[LuciluS]

I have an attachment on my wages. I talked to an attorney. He told me I had to pay him off in full before they can stop any garnishments...There is no way that I can save up for the fee for bankruptcy and have my check garnished. Is there a way to stop it??? Im at my wits end with everything.... Thanks!

Hey! I fully understand. Like the others have said, if you haven't, quit using your credit cards and stop paying on them.

I didn't realize how dependent DH & I were to CCs until we quit using and paying them. Our BK Attorney let us pay him out over a 4 month period. It's tuff, but we did it!

Hang in there!

Luci

[Artdogg]

Well, if I quit smoking and eating I could pay it off. Because, I make around $350.00 every two weeks and my rent is $220.00. So, I don't know.

[dingdong]

Sometimes in a garnishment you can apply for a hardhsip exemption on some of your assets (wages).

Have you checked out your states garnishment laws to see if they allow for any exemptions?

What kind of garnishment is it? Did the creditor go through all the proper procedure for obtaining the garnishment?

You might be able to attack the actual judgement through the courts if you were not served properly, etc. Kind of a longshot, but it might be worth looking into?

[Artdogg]

I'm pretty sure they did everything by the book. And what do you mean exceptions? And, when I do file, I'm afraid I'm going to miss someone. I just don't know what to do.

[keepmine]

Get your credit reports {you get a free one every year} and list everybody on there as a start. Save all dunning letters and include those.
You big problem is, you don't make enough money to support yourself post bk. $700/month just won't do it. You need at a minimum find a pt job or weekend work-first for the legal fees and then, just to support yourself.

[Artdogg]

If I have the majority of the big ones. I can make payment arrangements on the smaller ones.

[jb300]

If you are going to file though you don't want to be paying one CC card and not another. That could create another problem for you when you can file and make you have to wait longer to file.

[Artdogg]

Okay. I'm just lost.

[keepmine]

Lets start at the beginning. What is the total amount you owe creditors?

[Artdogg]

About $35,000-$40,000.

[keepmine]

That's plenty to file bk over. Don't worry about paying any small ones. Let 'em all go in bk.
I'd worry more right now about lack of income. Get your finances stable first. The debt and the bk option will still be there.