Are your wages being garnished to pay off a debt? You have options to stop creditors from taking money out of your paycheck. Although bankruptcy is one option, it may not be the best solution for you.
Request a Court-Appointed Trustee
Under Ohio law, you may be able to avoid wage garnishment if you enter into a trusteeship. Trusteeships can stop wage garnishment and prevent creditors from harassing you for payment.
A trusteeship requires that you pay a percentage of your earnings to your court-appointed trustee. Your trustee then uses those funds to pay off your creditors.
Are You Eligible for a Trusteeship?
To be eligible for a trusteeship, you must meet several requirements, including:
- You must be a resident of Cleveland or Bratenahl
- Have a complete list of creditors and respective debts
- Ability to pay 20% of disposable income to your court-appointed trustee
Object to the Wage Garnishment Notice
Another option for ending wage garnishment is to file an objection in court. Once you file an objection, creditors cannot garnish your wages until the court rules on your case. If you fail to act after receiving a wage garnishment notice, expect to have your wages garnished.
You must have a valid reason for objecting to the wage garnishment, such as:
- Your creditor didn’t follow proper protocols
- You already paid the debts
- The creditor is taking more than you have available
If you are unsure how to object to a wage garnishment notice, our Cleveland Bankruptcy Attorneys are ready to help.
Try Debt Counseling
It is not uncommon for people to end up in financial hardships, despite their best efforts to repay their debts. If you hope to avoid bankruptcy but stop wage garnishment, debt counseling could be the answer for you.
Get help from a consumer credit counseling service. They may be able to stop wage garnishment by negotiating with your creditors and formulating a repayment plan. If you follow the repayment plan you agreed to, the creditor will then be unable to garnish your wages.
Consider Declaring Bankruptcy
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, bills and debts keep piling up. In cases like these, declaring bankruptcy could be your best option.
An automatic stay is issued as soon as you formally declare bankruptcy. An automatic stay halts all collection efforts, including wage garnishment.
There are several different types of bankruptcy. You don’t necessarily have to sell all your assets to clear your financial slate. Find out more when you speak with a bankruptcy lawyer.
Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney in Cleveland
To learn about ways you could stop wage garnishment and get your life back, call Cleveland Bankruptcy Attorneys. Our Cleveland Bankruptcy Attorneys may be able to stop wage garnishment without having to file for bankruptcy.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation when you call our office at 216-586-6600. Or complete our quick contact form to get started on your case as soon as today.