09/19/2023
What is a Wage Garnishment?
A garnishment, sometimes called a wage attachment, is a court order that allows a creditor to take money directly from your paycheck – and it is one of the most utilized weapons in a creditor’s collection arsenal. Garnishment continues until the debt in question is fully paid. It is important to note that a creditor cannot garnish your wages without first receiving a money judgment from a court unless the debt is from the IRS or certain other kinds of government debts.
What Are My Options?
The best time to stop wage garnishment in Maryland is before it has begun.
1) Filing for an Exemption Can Help
Under Maryland law, you can file an injunction for exemption relief under certain circumstances to protect or “exempt” some or all of your wages. If the injunction is successful, the judge can either reduce the garnishment amount or cancel (set aside) the garnishment order. However, this course of action is rarely successful.
2) Bankruptcy Can Stop Wage Garnishment in Maryland
Bankruptcy is a powerful tool to help individuals and families get their finances under control when debt has become unmanageable. Filing for bankruptcy can stop a foreclosure or auto repossession, aggressive tax collectors and collection calls/letters, wage garnishment, and more.
