How to Stop Wage Garnishing

Some creditors are relentless in their attempts to collect on an unpaid debt, and some pursue lawsuits against debtors in order to garnish their wages. Wage garnishments can severely impact your personal finances. If a sheriff presents your employer with wage garnishment papers, your employer has the obligation to deduct payments from your check. However, you can stop a wage garnishment.

Instructions

1

Contact the creditor and discuss plans to pay off the debt in full. Write a check payable for the full balance owed, and then make a copy of the check for your personal records. Ask the creditor to provide you with written proof that you paid the debt.

2

Visit the courthouse and request a form to file a claim of exemption if you can't meet everyday needs due to the wage garnishing. The court will schedule a hearing. Prepare for this hearing by keeping copies of your income stubs and writing down a list of your monthly expenditures.

3

File for bankruptcy protection. A bankruptcy filing results in an automatic stay, which legally stops creditors from garnishing your wages or pursuing debt collection.