Hi. I wanted to introduce myself, as I was just notified on Tuesday that my wages are going to be garnished for a medical bill that I just can't afford to pay. I got a conditional (?) judgement and agreed to pay $60 a month to this creditor, even though I told her that I couldn't afford the $60, they still pushed, and I was scared and nervous about being in court and agreed.
Well, lookie, lookie, I couldn't pay the first and second payment, so I got notice of wage garnishment, which will be $344 a pay period. Ouch. Thankfully, because of labor day, it was given to my employer on Tuesday, and the next pay period falls on the NINTH day, so I have, essentially, a second pay period to hopefully file for chapter 7.
I guess for the first time since I became an adult, it's time to pull my head out of the sand and deal with this stuff like an adult. Which is pretty much the most stressful thing I can think of. I haven't comfortably answered my phone or checked my mail in years, so it's going to be a big change.
I make a decent wage, but I live in California, so rent is pretty high, my partner doesn't work, and we have a child, so I am below the median. I have some old debts, including medical bills and some credit cards that I haven't had in a long time. In fact, even though I haven't been good about paying credit cards in the past, I don't use credit any more, and haven't in years.
We are current on rent, and on my car payment, and even though we can't pay student loans right now, they are in forbearance, so they aren't defaulted or behind.
Here's the other hiccup: my partner and I are registered domestic partners. We don't have any "assets", other than a broken down jeep and household stuff. Oh- and some (but not a ton) of camera gear that I use in my part-time side business. Which doesn't even make enough money to call it a business. In California, registered DPs are treated as married, so anything I own, she also owns. But since BK is federal, it's a little murky, but I plan on slogging through. (should we get married before I file just to clear things up? Is that illegal?) We don't really have property anyway, so it may end up being moot. I was hoping to file jointly, since she also has a ton of outstanding medical bills (including a $40k helicopter ride-- when we got that bill, I just laughed! I barely have money for groceries, it may as well have been for a million dollars!) and I figured we should just do it all at once. If we have to file seperately, so be it. I guess this wage garnishment is just a kick in the a** I need.
Anyway, I really don't have any money, so I would like to try to do this Pro se, if at all possible. I have spent the last couple of days finding out what I can about filing bankruptcy, and will put a lot of time in it this weekend, when I am off work. I guess I should make an appointment for a free consult with a BK attny, right?
I look forward to meeting you all. It sucks to be in this position, but for the first time in a long time (since I got served with those papers that I was being sued for $1500, which is now $2,000) I feel some hope.
Well, lookie, lookie, I couldn't pay the first and second payment, so I got notice of wage garnishment, which will be $344 a pay period. Ouch. Thankfully, because of labor day, it was given to my employer on Tuesday, and the next pay period falls on the NINTH day, so I have, essentially, a second pay period to hopefully file for chapter 7.
I guess for the first time since I became an adult, it's time to pull my head out of the sand and deal with this stuff like an adult. Which is pretty much the most stressful thing I can think of. I haven't comfortably answered my phone or checked my mail in years, so it's going to be a big change.
I make a decent wage, but I live in California, so rent is pretty high, my partner doesn't work, and we have a child, so I am below the median. I have some old debts, including medical bills and some credit cards that I haven't had in a long time. In fact, even though I haven't been good about paying credit cards in the past, I don't use credit any more, and haven't in years.
We are current on rent, and on my car payment, and even though we can't pay student loans right now, they are in forbearance, so they aren't defaulted or behind.
Here's the other hiccup: my partner and I are registered domestic partners. We don't have any "assets", other than a broken down jeep and household stuff. Oh- and some (but not a ton) of camera gear that I use in my part-time side business. Which doesn't even make enough money to call it a business. In California, registered DPs are treated as married, so anything I own, she also owns. But since BK is federal, it's a little murky, but I plan on slogging through. (should we get married before I file just to clear things up? Is that illegal?) We don't really have property anyway, so it may end up being moot. I was hoping to file jointly, since she also has a ton of outstanding medical bills (including a $40k helicopter ride-- when we got that bill, I just laughed! I barely have money for groceries, it may as well have been for a million dollars!) and I figured we should just do it all at once. If we have to file seperately, so be it. I guess this wage garnishment is just a kick in the a** I need.
Anyway, I really don't have any money, so I would like to try to do this Pro se, if at all possible. I have spent the last couple of days finding out what I can about filing bankruptcy, and will put a lot of time in it this weekend, when I am off work. I guess I should make an appointment for a free consult with a BK attny, right?
I look forward to meeting you all. It sucks to be in this position, but for the first time in a long time (since I got served with those papers that I was being sued for $1500, which is now $2,000) I feel some hope.
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