If your wages are currently being garnished because of your inability to pay current debts, you know what a stressful situation it is. No matter how good your intentions, sometimes life happens and things come up that can change your entire financial situation in a matter of days. If you need help getting above water again and want to know how to stop wage garnishment in Seattle, follow these steps. Talk to a Lawyer If you're in a situation where your wages are being garnished and you barely have enough to get by, the thought of paying a lawyer's fee may be the last thing on your mind. But did you know that many lawyers offer free consultations? Then if you do decide to work with them to start the bankruptcy process, many do not require the payment until they have helped you get back on your feet. By talking to a lawyer about your situation, they can help you get your wages back and put an end to harassing calls from creditors almost immediately. If you want to get your life back to normal, you can't afford not to have a great bankruptcy lawyer on your side. File for Bankruptcy Once you have talked to a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy and have decided that it's the best route for you to take, it's time to start the process. It can seem long and complicated if you're not familiar with the process, but it can be simple and painless with someone experienced guiding you every step of the way. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common form of personal bankruptcy, and it involves liquidating unsecured assets to pay back creditors while stopping wage garnishment and harassing phone calls. The first step to filing involves meeting with your lawyer and gathering up all of your financial records, statement of financial affairs, bank statements, and all other necessary documents to fill out your bankruptcy petition. You must fill out numerous forms that are usually together in a packet available to pick up from the bankruptcy court clerk. These forms include schedules of assets and liabilities, a statement of financial affairs, and your voluntary petition for relief. • Means Test After filling out all required documents,they will need to be submitted to the court along with a filing fee. The next step is the Means Test, which was added to the Bankruptcy Code in 2005. Simply put, it exists to determine if you have the means to pay your debts by taking your income from the past 6 months and comparing it to the median income in your state. If you fail the means test, your ability to file for Chapter 7 will only be available under special exceptions. If you pass, the next step of the process can commence. • Meeting of Creditors For this meeting, a notice will be sent to all creditors listed on your submitted documents and you will be asked various questions to ensure the validity of the documents. This meeting can seem stressful, but as long as you were truthful on all of your forms you have nothing to worry about. • Seizure of Assets All non-exempt property can then be seized to sell in order to pay your debts. An example of a common exemption is a retirement account. • Discharge After the previous steps and if no creditor objects to the discharge, you will be officially discharged after the last day to object or file a complaint, which is typically 60 days after the meeting of creditors. So if you're wondering how to stop wage garnishment in Seattle, follow these steps and your life can finally go back to normal.
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