Some time ago, you were sued by a bank, credit card company, or another creditor over a debt you couldn’t keep up with. You didn’t have the money to hire an attorney or the energy to fight, so you did what so many people do — you buried your head in the sand, or tried not to think about it. Not out of neglect or malice, but because the situation was simply too overwhelming. Your finances were already stretched thin, and the thought of another bill, another deadline, another demand letter was too much to bear.
For a while, nothing happened. You went on living, hoping maybe it had gone away. Then one morning, a payment bounces. You try to withdraw from your account and can’t. Or maybe your paycheck deposits for less than you’ve ever seen. Confused, you call the bank or your employer — and that’s when you hear it: your wages or account have been garnished.
That word lands like a punch. If your take-home pay suddenly drops by 25–40%, it’s not just inconvenient — it’s catastrophic. Rent, utilities, groceries — everything begins to slide. You start falling behind on obligations you were barely keeping up with before, and it feels like the walls are closing in.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: a bankruptcy filing can stop the garnishment immediately. The moment a petition is filed , all collection activity must cease — including wage and bank garnishments. Your paycheck is yours again, protected by federal law.
In most cases, the judgment debt behind that garnishment is completely dischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code. Unless the debt arose from fraud, malfeasance, or one of the express exceptions to discharge — such as certain taxes, student loans, or judgments involving wrongful death or intentional injury — it can be wiped out entirely.
At Crespo & Crespo, we’ve guided countless clients through this exact situation across Florida and Puerto Rico. We understand how powerless it feels to watch your income vanish before you even touch it. Our goal is simple: stop the garnishment, end the collection pressure, and help you get your financial life back under your control.
What next?
- Read how the Automatic Stay freezes garnishments.
- See what you keep when you file.
- Wondering about student loans? See what bankruptcy can’t do.