I really like most garnishes. Put some parsley on a plate, it feels like spring. A coiled carrot or flowered radish adds a touch that can make a mundane-looking meal seem like a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant.
But some of my clients experience garnishes of a different kind, the ones that are very upsetting.
It’s not a good feeling to have your wages, your tax return, or your bank account garnished. Those doing the garnishment are government authorities or collection agencies.
Example of Garnishment
Let’s look at student loan garnishments. I met recently with a client whose bi-weekly paychecks were attached by collectors at $300.00 per pay. That means the client was being forced to pay about $600.00 every month because she previously defaulted on her student loan payments.
The client was looking forward to some relief from her income tax refund, but that’s not happening either. The $4,500.00 she expected to receive from her income tax refund is also being garnished.
If the client were making a fairly large salary, perhaps the garnishment wouldn’t mean so much. But for a person with children to care for who is working for modest wages, this can be quite a burden.
After she visited Steidl & Steinberg, we estimated that, by placing her in a Chapter 13 reorganization bankruptcy, we could reduce those student loan payments and credit card debt to about $150.00 per month.
She was pleasantly surprised, especially when I told her the credit cards were included and, once the bankruptcy was filed, we could most likely protect the income tax refund since she hadn’t filed her taxes. It’s possible with the money saved she may go out to dinner. Now, she can finally get a garnish that she enjoys.
Let Us Help You
If you need bankruptcy help, contact Steidl & Steinberg law firm. From debt consolidation to Chapter 13 bankruptcy, our bankruptcy lawyers are here for you.