How to Stop Payroll Garnishment

A payroll garnishment can be stopped several ways, including working with your creditor, identifying exemptions and asking a court to enforce them, and declaring bankruptcy. Your options depend on your financial situation and the type of creditor that you're working with. If you are confused about what to do, contact a lawyer or a legal aid office for information about your options.

Federal and state laws limit the amount that can be garnished from your disposable income. Disposable income is your income after mandatory deductions, such as federal and state taxes and Social Security payments.

• Federal law states that creditors cannot garnish more than 25 percent of your disposable income or the amount that your earnings are higher than 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less.

• State laws vary on exemption amounts. If there is a difference between your state's exemptions and the federal exemption, you are entitled to claim the larger exemption.

If you believe creditors are garnishing more of your wages than they should, file a claim of exemption with the court that ordered the garnishment. The claim process varies by state, but you may have to attend a hearing and argue your claim before a judge.

Wage garnishment usually comes late in the debt collection process, after the creditor has exhausted other means of collecting a debt, such as letters and phone calls. Still, your creditor may be willing to work with you, particularly if you can make a sizable payment on the debt or will agree to a repayment plan.

Government agencies and their private debt collectors sometimes garnish wages for the repayment of taxes, overpayment of government benefits, and delinquent child support and student loans. This is sometimes known as an "administrative garnishment" because the creditor doesn't have to go to court to begin deducting payments from your wages. The agency does, however, have to give you notice that it intends to garnish your paycheck. The amount of notice varies, but it allows you a window of opportunity to appeal or request an alternative payment arrangement.

If you don't respond by the deadline on the garnishment notice you received, you may still be able to stop the garnishment. For example, the IRS may allow you to establish a payment arrangement or even settle your tax debt for less than you owe. If you are being garnished for student loan repayment, you may be able to consolidate your debt or rehabilitate a defaulted loan.

Filing for bankruptcy stops all collection efforts, including wage garnishments. While this is a drastic step, some chose bankruptcy as a way of stopping garnishment. Bankruptcy not only stops collection efforts, it eliminates most types of debt. Exceptions include child support, alimony and some taxes. In addition, you may be able to get some of your garnished funds back after filing for bankruptcy.